5 dead, 2 hurt in Pennsylvania house explosion: Officials

It's believed all victims have been accounted for, officials said.

May 27, 2022, 5:30 PM

Five people were killed and two others were hurt in a house explosion in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Thursday night, officials said.

Four of the five victims killed were children, ABC Philadelphia station WPVI reported.

Drone footage shot May 27, 2022, shows wreckage from an explosion in Pottstown, Penn.
Bradley Long

One of the injured is in critical but stable condition, while the second surviving victim is in surgery for unknown injuries, Pottstown Borough Manager Justin Keller said at a Friday press conference.

Two homes are completely destroyed and other homes suffered damage, he said.

A house exploded on North Washington Street in Pottstown, Penn., on the evening of May 26, 2022.
WPVI

It's not yet clear what caused the explosion, which took place just after 8 p.m. on North Washington Street, Keller said.

It's believed everyone has been accounted for, Keller said.

Resident Christian Gonzalez told WPVI he initially thought the explosion was thunder.

"It shook the area," he said.

A house exploded on North Washington Street in Pottstown, Penn., on the evening of May 26, 2022.
WPVI
A house exploded on North Washington Street in Pottstown, Penn., on the evening of May 26, 2022.
WPVI

Pottstown schools are closed Friday in the wake of the deadly incident.

Pottstown is located about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia.