Gas Explosion at South Florida Mall Injures at Least 20

An explosion in a shopping center in Plantation, Florida has left at least 20 people injured. 

One person inside a nearby LA Fitness was injured and another person at a Tesla charging station was hit with flying debris, according to a report from ABC. The local police department has closed all of the stores in the surrounding area and is encouraging people to avoid the area.

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

While no official cause has been determined, firefighters noted that it appears to be a gas-related explosion. 

“We had ruptured gas lines. We did have an active gas leak when we arrived, (but) they were able to secure it,” Battalion Chief Joel Gordon told CNN “At this point, we have not actually confirmed that it was an explosion due to gas…We believe that. That’s what it appears to be.”

Photos and video from the scene show a ruined storefront with debris scattered far from the center of the explosion.

A representative of the Plantation Fire Department said that they believe the situation could have been much worse, as the nearby gym was occupied at the time of the explosion.

“Thank goodness, at this point… nobody was killed,” he said. “Thank goodness for that. As bad as it is, it could have been a lot worse.”