Three Hurt in South Philly Gas Explosion

"Like when a bomb goes off."

CBS Philly:“A suspected gas explosion at a South Philadelphia row home sent three people to the hospital Thursday night. It happened on the 1800 block of South Bancroft Street. A PGW spokeswoman says crews responded at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday because of the smell of gas. Then, less than two hours later, neighbors tell CBS 3 they heard the explosion.”

6ABC: 

The two PGW employees and a resident were injured in the explosion. They were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with non-life-threatening injuries.

93-year-old resident Antoinette Marchand was at home with her dog when suddenly she heard an explosion.

“The dog jumped. I grabbed hold of the dog. I called 911 for the fire department,” Marchand said.

The explosion was so powerful, it knocked down book cases and other items in nearby homes.

Reports suggest three families were displaced by the explosion.