Albuquerque home explosion injures resident, rocks neighborhood

Albuquerque home severely damaged after explosion

Firefighters rescued a severely injured person following a home explosion in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the evening of November 23, authorities said. (Credit: Albuquerque Fire Rescue via Storyful)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Firefighters rescued a critically injured person after a home exploded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the evening of November 23, officials said.

What we know:

According to Albuquerque Fire Rescue, crews quickly brought the resulting fire under control. 

Residents of a neighboring home were temporarily displaced until the structural safety of their property could be confirmed.

According to KRQE, Spokesman Tim Korte for the New Mexico Gas Company said a neighbor contacted NMGC to report a gas odor. An NMGC technician responded to check the area, but found no leaks in the company’s system. The odor was likely coming from the home where the incident occurred. NMGC is cooperating with authorities as they continue to investigate the situation.

What we don't know:

The department said the explosion was not related to a gas leak, and the cause remains under investigation.

(Credit: Albuquerque Fire Rescue via Storyful)

Local perspective:

"All of this stuff was all in the street, all the way to the other side of the street," neighbor Michelle Bianchi told KRQE. "They said there was one person in there, they pulled him out with injuries. I talked with some neighbors and it busted out their windows, from the air pressure."

"There was a flash, and then you heard the boom, and all the debris," neighbor Eugene Quintana also told the outlet. "The neighbor across the street ended up getting some buckets of water and we threw it on him. Then the fire department came and finished putting him out."