Major explosion in Plantation

[BerettaRacer]

Major explosion at Fountains Shopping Plaza in Plantation

https://heavy.com/news/2019/07/la-fitne ... n-florida/

There are reports of a major gas explosion at Fountains shopping center near an LA Fitness business in Plantation, Florida. Videos and photos posted on social media showed a large degree of damage. You can see them throughout this article.

Plantation fire wrote on Twitter that it was a gas explosion with multiple patients. Authorities now say that 15 and 20 people were injured, two seriously.

All stores and businesses in the area of the Fountains Plaza and the Plantation Marketplace plaza near LA Fitness will be shut down until futher notice until Fire Personnel can determine that it is safe to return. Please do not come into this area if possible,” Plantation police wrote.

The roof was blown off a building near the LA Fitness. NBC Miami reported that an LA Fitness employee smelled gas before the explosion occurred.

[BerettaRacer]

I'm about 3/4 mi away and I heard it and felt the concussion from it inside my townhouse even with the TV on. Didn't know what it was until later when I tried to drive down University Blvd and all roads blocked, then just figured it was lightning hitting a transformer or something.

[Gregg]

The explosion was at a vacated ex pizza restaurant.
It was a natural gas leak, the gas slowly built up to a explosive mixture, and then all it took was a spark to set it off.
I bet gas could be smelled outside the vacant area for some time before the explosion.