© AP Photo/Ezequiel Abiu LopezA police officer stands in the rubble of homes and cars destroyed by an explosion from a nearby gas distribution center owned by Solgas in the Los Rios neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. According to officials, two early morning explosions destroyed several homes and injured at least 40 people
At least 40 people were injured when a liquefied petroleum gas distribution station blew up in Santo Dominto, Dominican authorities told EFE.
Eight of the injured are in serious condition with burns over 60 percent of their bodies, as well as suffering other injuries.
The explosion, which caused traffic chaos in the capital, also caused the collapse of a nearby three-story building, where firefighters are continuing to look for possible victims or survivors among the ruins.
Officials with the Dominican Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distributors told EFE that the explosion occurred due to a gas leak caused by a faulty valve on one of the station's tanks.
The main problem facing firefighters and technical personnel was ensuring that the blaze did not spread to another large nearby tank that had to be constantly chilled to prevent a new tragedy.
The sources said that the LPG station was up to date with all its permits.
Comment: Unusual weather is happening all over the globe. Check out the January edition of SOTT's Earth Changes Summary for more extreme weather, planetary upheaval and meteor fireballs.