(Gray News) – Four people have died after a house exploded in Ohio, authorities say.
The explosion happened shortly after 7 a.m. Saturday in Ellsworth Township in Mahoning County, WFMJ reported. The location is southwest of Youngstown in northern Ohio.
The house was destroyed but still on fire when first responders arrived at the scene. Debris and a hole in the ground could be seen at the site of the house.
The blast could be felt for miles around. A neighbor said the explosion knocked her to the ground and shattered her home’s windows, WFMJ said.
The explosion also shifted some surrounding homes on their foundations, cracked ceilings, and knocked items off shelves and cabinets, WKBN said.
The cause of the blast is under investigation by the state’s fire marshal, and authorities haven’t yet identified the victims.
Deputies with Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office were posted to the location overnight to keep people from loitering at the explosion site, WFMJ said.
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