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CHILLING video shows Evansville house exploding leaving 3 dead as ATF probe launched

At least 11 of the 39 homes damaged are 'uninhabitable', said an official

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA: A massive house explosion caught on security footage in the southern Indiana city of Evansville killed three people and damaged at least 39 homes. The blast had a 100-foot radius and was reported around 1 pm on Wednesday, August 10, Evansville Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly confirmed. North Weinbach Avenue, where the explosion took place, was later shut down by police, as were other neighboring streets.

While at least 39 homes were damaged, it is unclear how many houses were occupied at the time of the blast. Connelly said that at least 11 of the 39 homes the explosion damaged are "uninhabitable". "Debris is strewn over a 100-foot radius," including "typical construction materials" like wooden boards, window glass and insulation," he said. Connelly said there could be more victims, and that authorities are searching the area. 

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Dave Anson, chief deputy coroner for Vanderburgh County, said the victims' identities would not be released until the next of kin has been notified. Evansville Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray confirmed that there has been at least one other injury. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the incident. The cause of the explosion has not been determined.

CenterPoint Energy said it is working with the fire department. "CenterPoint Energy is working closely with the Evansville Fire Department, State Fire Marshal and other agencies as the investigation of this incident continues," the utility said, according to the Daily Mail.

Resident Drew Slader said he was sitting on a couch when the force of the blast threw him off. He shared video from inside his home, where broken window frames and kitchen cabinets hanging from the wall are visible. Jacki Baumgart, an office manager at Award World Trophies, was about two-and-a-half blocks from where the blast occured, said that they heard a lous blast and saw the smoke. "We thought a tree fell on the building or a car ran into the place," Baumgart said. "Debris from the ceiling came down." She continued, "Everybody here immediately ran out of the building. We thought the building was going to come down."

Meanwhile, Evansville Police Department wrote in a Facebook post, "Our thoughts are with those closely involved with the explosion that happened on N. Weinbach this afternoon. As more information becomes available the respective agencies investigating will be able to provide more information. N. Weinbach between Columbia and Oak Hill will be shut down for the foreseeable future, please plan an alternate route. If anyone has footage of the incident, please forward a copy of the video to our Detectives Unit at whunt@evansvillepolice.com."