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House Explosion Felt For Miles

This house was badly damaged by the one that exploded.
This house was badly damaged by the one that exploded.

WELLMAN: Right now I'm about a three minute walk from the site of the explosion and even here you can see several houses with windows blown out. To my right is an elementary school. On the south side of the building, windows were blown open by the force of the explosion.

POLICE: Hey guys, who sent you down here.

Police cordoned off a wide area, letting some neighbors back in to pick up a handful of belongings. The house that exploded is nothing but rubble. One neighboring house had only a chimney remaining. Debris was scatted everywhere, even in trees. At least 11 people went to the hospital. Incredibly, police say there were no serious injuries.

GULLEY: I saw all of the smoke from the highway...

James Gulley was driving home, having worked all night at a factory job.

GULLEY: So I come around and I was barely able to get into my parking lot from all the cars everywhere up and down the street, police everywhere.

Gulley's daughter and parents were home at the time. There are some cracks in the walls and ceiling, but he thinks the house will be ok. The nearby elementary school was evacuated and turned into a gathering place for affected families. Larry Gray is a spokesman for the Cleveland Fire Department.

GRAY: This is a temporary shelter set up by the red cross to provide nourishment, warmth, blankets are in there, things like that. Just to sustain them until we can get them back into their house.

While there is still no official cause, it's widely believed a gas leak is to blame. Gray says each damaged house will be inspected before neighbors are allowed back in.