THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Residents were woken up by the smell of gas which they said extended miles away.
The Fire Department confirmed that five people were injured, all minor injuries. Two refused medical attention, while the rest were taken to Montefiore Medical Center.
A major gas main rupture Sunday morning in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx covered the air in fumes and had residents running for their lives.
“It was scary! I got my dog, my documentation, and my son, I was like, I cannot breathe because it was smelling, all this area was smelling like crazy,” said resident Claudia Maccow.
According to FDNY officials, the gas main erupted at around 9:40 in the morning near 379 Bedford Park Boulevard.
“I heard the explosion. It sounded like it was a bomb, it exploded up like was shooting water but it was shooting gas up,” said MIilly Reynoso.
“It was loud, it was like boom. Like that,” added Grecia Solano.
Police and other emergency officials closed off the area for several blocks.
Firefighters were breaking down apartment doors, making sure people were getting out. This exclusive PIX11 news video is from Grecia Solano’s apartment front door camera.
“When we turned back we saw the smoke, like orange smoke coming out from the hole, we just ran faster and took the car and disappeared,” said Solano.
The massive gas leak also shut down businesses and interrupted Sunday service for the dozens of parishioners at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church of India. Jes Kurivilla was one of them.
“This was a sharp shooting sound that came from the ground and came up and an automatic smell of gas that came around.
“We trooped out, we have an evacuation plan in place, we always do those drills. The fire department was in place for 10-15 minutes, and the whole place was cordoned off,” said Kurivilla.
Con Edison workers remained on location all day Sunday. The cause of this gas main explosion remains unknown.
This gas main rupture also caused a temporary suspension on several bus lanes. The Department of Building was also here as there is an investigation into this incident.
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