CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania — Investigators in northeastern Pennsylvania were continuing to examine the cause of a powerful explosion that destroyed multiple homes and injured three people this week, after authorities said preliminary evidence pointed to a propane leak outside a residence.
The explosion occurred on Thursday morning along Sensentine Road in Clinton Township, Wayne County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Officials said the blast destroyed several homes and damaged others in the surrounding area. Three residents were taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
Pennsylvania State Police said preliminary findings indicate that a propane cylinder outside one of the homes may have leaked and ignited during a fire, triggering a large explosion. Authorities said the blast also caused additional propane tanks nearby to explode. The investigation remains ongoing.
According to police, an 84-year-old woman was inside her home when the explosion occurred. Her residence partially collapsed, trapping debris throughout the structure. Investigators said her 63-year-old son was upstairs at the time and escaped through a second-story window after becoming trapped. The woman's husband was on the porch and also reached safety. All three were transported to a hospital, state police said.
Video recorded by residents and circulated by local media showed a large fireball rising above the neighborhood and debris being thrown into the air. Witnesses reported hearing hissing sounds and multiple explosions before and during the incident. Several fire departments responded to the scene and worked to contain the fire and secure the area.
Authorities have provided differing assessments of the extent of the structural damage. Pennsylvania State Police said three homes were destroyed and several others damaged, while other local reports, citing emergency responders and investigators, said at least two homes collapsed and multiple nearby properties sustained damage. Officials have not yet released a final damage assessment.
“Preliminary findings indicate that a propane tank outside a residence may have leaked,” Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement released after the incident. Authorities cautioned that the findings remain subject to further investigation.
The explosion drew a large emergency response from across the region and temporarily disrupted access to nearby roads as investigators examined the scene. No fatalities were reported in connection with the blast, according to state police.
As of Saturday, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire and Explosives Unit continued its investigation. Officials said the exact cause of the explosion had not been formally determined and that additional findings would be released when available.
