Eight injured in Chicago building explosion that sounded 'like a bomb'

At least eight people were injured from an explosion at an apartment building on Tuesday morning in the South Austin neighborhood of Chicago. 

The Chicago Fire Department confirmed the explosion at around 9 a.m. in a four-story apartment building located at 5601 W. West End Ave. 

Ten ambulances were sent to the scene and at least eight people were transported to nearby hospitals. Seven of the victims were inside the building, the eight victim was across the street.

At least three victims were in serious to critical condition, according to Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt. Most of the victims were suffering from “very traumatic burn injuries” and were being treated at Loyola University Medical Center’s burn unit. 

"It just blew up out of nowhere. Everybody's having a regular, normal morning, and it just blew up," said Anthonella Wims, who was injured from the explosion while she was waiting at a bus stop across the street. 

"So everything that blew up, it came to me first," she said. "Glass, just everything. Everything on the top building just blew," adding that at first, she thought it was a terrorist attack. 

The Chicago Fire Department shared pictures and videos of the debris caused by the explosion, which cover several streets in the neighborhood. 

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"My bed shook almost like an earthquake," said neighbor Shannon Nelson, who was in bed when she heard the explosion. 

“I was in my bed, and it shook my building across the street,” said Shante Walker, who lives across the street from the building. “That’s how loud it was. I saw firefighters bring out one person who was wrapped in a blanket.”

The cause of the explosion remains unknown and is under investigation. “We don’t know what caused this incident,” Deputy Fire Commissioner Marc Ferman said. “It’s still under investigation.”

While some pointed to gas as the possible culprit, the gas company said otherwise. "There is no reason at this point to believe the cause is related to gas or any of our equipment," added a Peoples Gas spokesperson. 

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Chicago Police Department Bomb Unit was on scene to assist and investigate the explosion. According to the agencies, the explosion happened on the top floor of the building, causing at least one unit in the building to collapse and several windows to blow out.  

“This is a devastating event and we are heartbroken for all of our residents,” building owner Roman Viere said in an emailed statement. “Our first concern is the health, well-being, and safety of our residents. We are doing everything we can to cooperate with emergency services, and we are ready to do whatever we can to support our residents.”