2 Women Hurt In Gas Leak, Explosion At Underground Vaults In Koreatown
KOREATOWN (CBSLA) – A gas leak and explosion at two underground electrical vaults in Koreatown Friday morning left two women injured.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, at around 8:20 a.m. crews responding to reports of a gas leak arrived to find that there had been an explosion in an electrical vault. While on scene, a second electrical vault exploded.
The explosions sparked a fire, which smoldered until around 11:30 a.m., when it was extinguished.
Two women suffered minor injuries in the explosions, one of which was transported to a hospital in fair condition.
Due to the noticeable presence of natural gas, L.A. Department of Water and Power, SoCal Gas and LAFD hazmat teams remained on scene for several hours to monitor the area.
Surrounding streets were cordoned off, but no evacuation orders were issued. 6th Street was closed from South Westmoreland Avenue to Vermont Avenue. Shatto Place was closed between 5th Street and Wilshire Boulevard.
The exact cause and circumstances of the gas leak and explosion were not immediately known.