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Contractor-Linked Gas Explosion in Bay Area Injures 6 as NTSB Launches Probe

Investigators are examining how a ruptured PG&E gas line was shut off minutes before the blast.

Overview

  • PG&E says a third-party construction crew struck an underground gas line around 7:35 a.m. on East Lewelling Boulevard in the Ashland area near Hayward.
  • Utility crews report stopping the gas flow at about 9:25 a.m., and a powerful explosion followed roughly 10 minutes later, triggering a three-alarm fire.
  • About 75 firefighters contained flames that destroyed or severely damaged at least three structures and caused additional damage to nearby homes.
  • Six people were transported to hospitals, with officials reporting some serious injuries and uncertainty over whether the injured were workers or residents.
  • The NTSB has dispatched investigators as PG&E and Alameda County fire officials review the pipeline strike, response timeline, and widely shared doorbell video.