Toronto, Canada— One person was killed and four others were injured Thursday when a gas explosion destroyed a residential duplex in Toronto, shaking homes across the neighborhood.
The blast happened at 6:15 a.m. on Danforth Avenue in the city's east end. Neighbors reported a strong smell of gas overnight, then a deafening boom at dawn. The duplex collapsed completely. Flames shot from the rubble and spread to two adjacent houses.
Firefighters arrived within eight minutes. They found one victim dead inside what was left of the ground floor unit. Four others, including two children from the neighboring home, were rescued with burns and lacerations. They were taken to Sunnybrook and SickKids hospitals.
"This was a significant gas explosion. The structure is a total loss," a Toronto Fire Services platoon chief said at the scene. "We are now working with Enbridge to determine the source of the leak."
Enbridge Gas crews shut off gas to the entire block. They used detectors to check every home on the street. The leak was traced to a cracked service line leading into the duplex basement. The line was old and had been flagged for replacement.
Residents said they called the gas company twice overnight to report the odor. One neighbor said a technician came but left, saying levels were not critical. That account is now part of the investigation.
The duplex was home to an elderly couple. The man died. His wife survived with serious injuries. The city housing department will inspect the two damaged neighboring homes for structural safety.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will join the probe because it involves pipeline infrastructure. A full report will take months.
The street remains closed as crews clear debris and check for further leaks.
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