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(Gallery by Mark M. Murray, The Republican)

Aftermath of Springfield Explosion on Worthington Street 24 Gallery: Aftermath of Springfield Explosion on Worthington Street



SPRINGFIELD — A demolition crew couldn't have done a better job of leveling a brick-and-mortar building in just seconds flat on Friday.

That was the scene near the corner of Worthington and Chestnut streets around 5:30 p.m., when a natural gas explosion laid waste to Score's Gentlemen's Club, a strip joint at 453 Worthington St. The blast also rendered two other buildings irreparably damaged, shattered windows of neighboring structures, and damaged multiple other buildings within a three-block radius of the explosion.

After the sun rose Saturday, Columbia Gas crews and public safety officials hit the ground running, searching for clues as to what may have caused the powerful blast heard for miles in every direction.

Small crowds of people were already scouting out areas near the blast site to see if they could catch a glimpse of the carnage caused by the explosion, which injured around 18 people and left a gaping hole in the ground.

Springfield police Lt. Robert Moynihan said gawkers should stay home because authorities have ringed off a multi-block area around the blast site, and anyone who tries to enter that area will be turned away. If people want to be helpful they should "stay away," Moynihan said. "We're trying to minimize sightseers because it's just going to create more of a situation," he said.

A motorist attempting to turn west onto Taylor Street from Spring Street, a good few blocks east of the explosion site, was stopped by a police cruiser after an officer quickly activated her lights and siren and lurched forward to stop the vehicle in its tracks.

Springfield explosion clean-up and recovery 21 Gallery: Springfield explosion clean-up and recovery

Drivers will essentially not be allowed to travel east of Dwight Street between Taylor Street on the north, Pearl and Hillman streets on the south and Spring Street on the east – forming a large, rectangular grid that's off-limits to drivers until further notice, authorities said.

Gas workers were seen working earlier this morning near Armoury Commons, at the corner of Spring and Pearl streets, but news crews trying to get an up-close look at the damage were being corralled a few blocks east of the blast site, particularly around the site of the former Lido restaurant.

Among the injured were several city workers, the bulk of whom were firefighters. Their injuries were not life-threatening, officials have said.

About an hour before the blast, officials had already evacuated part of the city's entertainment district after a strong odor of gas was detected. Firefighters, police officers and gas company workers were in the area when the explosion occurred.

The incident, which made national news and was among the lead items on this morning's Today show on NBC, has been dubbed "The Miracle on Worthington Street," a play on the classic 1947 film "A Miracle on 34th Street," starring Maureen O'Hara. It was Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray's remark at a post-explosion news conference Friday that sparked national media attention. "This is a miracle on Worthington Street that no one was killed," Murray said.

Officials pointed out just what a near-miss the explosion was, noting that the Square One daycare center was closed at the time of the blast, which occurred only hours after the city was filled with thousands of spectators watching the Parade of the Big Balloons.

Murray and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno were attending a tree-lighting ceremony when the explosion occurred. Sarno said some people mistakenly thought the boom was part of the holiday event.

Springfield natural gas explosion destroys building, causes widespread damage downtown 30 Gallery: Springfield natural gas explosion destroys building, causes widespread damage downtown

The explosion left at least three buildings irreparably damaged, including the strip club, and prompted emergency workers to evacuate a six-story apartment building that was buckling, police said. Some area residents were evacuated to a makeshift shelter at Central High School, which is now doubling as an information center for those affected by the blast.

Sheila Doiron, a spokeswoman for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, said the company will continue to monitor for any potential leaks within several blocks of the blast site. She said the company had already scanned the area and had not yet found any measurable readings. Officials said they did not yet know the source of the leak.

The incident was the latest in a series of disastrous incidents that have tested the mettle of city officials and residents, including the June 2011 tornado.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.