A massive explosion shook Wilmington, North Carolina, Tuesday morning after a vehicle struck a gas line outside the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center. The incident unfolded around 11:30 am on New Centre Drive, roughly seven miles east of the city’s Riverwalk.
The car reportedly lost control during a turn and slammed into the building, which was closed for renovations and expected to reopen in September. Moments later, a thunderous blast sent a towering column of smoke into the sky. Debris rained down across surrounding blocks as stunned bystanders witnessed the explosion.
It is still unclear whether the explosion was triggered directly by the crash or occurred moments later due to a gas line rupture.
Emergency crews rushed to the site, where three firefighters sustained serious burns to their hands, according to WECT. No civilians were inside the clinic at the time of the explosion. The blast was heard just after 11 a.m., and videos posted on social media captured a plume of dark smoke billowing above the structure.
Photos from the aftermath revealed the building’s facade and roof severely damaged, with fires still smoldering hours later.
The driver fled the scene but was quickly apprehended. As of now, no charges have been filed, StarNews Online reported.
The force of the explosion was so intense that it was heard over a mile away at the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus.
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