
Residents of a Washington apartment complex where two people died after a massive explosion say they 'smelled gas' in the days leading up to the deadly blast.

Along with the two people who were killed, several remain missing and at least 34 were injured in the incident shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

In the wake of the explosion in Silver Spring,Maryland, shocked locals have hit out at authorities for ignoring their calls about alleged 'gas leaks' near the building.

'I've been smelling gas for weeks. I called 911, they came and told us it smelled like incense,' Adrian Boya told the NBC Washington. 'That's pretty sad. It's like they didn't take us seriously.'

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Residents at the apartment complex in a Maryland suburb of Washington where two people died after a massive explosion say they 'smelled gas' in the days leading up to the deadly blast

A firefighter carries equipment past what is left of a part of an apartment complex smoldering in ruins after an explosion

Kevin Lewis, a reporter with ABC7, said at 3am the building was still burning thanks to a 'very stubborn gas fed blaze'.

There were also reports residents alerted the company, Washington Gas, to a potential leak in July, however that could not be confirmed on Thursday.

Washington Gas spokesman Jim Monroe would not say whether the company had received calls about smells or leaks at the building before the explosion and fire.

'We are supporting the investigation,' Monroe told the Washington Post.

The massive damage done to the four-story apartment building in Silver Spring is seen on Thursday afternoon

The remains of an apartment inside the building in Maryland where there was a blast on Wednesday night can be seen

Debris is seen on the ground near the apartment building that was rocked by an explosion shortly before midnight on Wednesday

'Information will be shared publicly at the appropriate time.'

Fire Chief Scott Goldstein also said there were no reports of gas smells before the blast.

Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Russ Hamill announced the two deaths in a media conference on Thursday.

A man watches as fire fighters look through the debris of a four-story building that was destroyed in an explosion

Concerned locals are pictured standing outside the apartment block where there was a explosion and fire on Wednesday night and Thursday morning

Firefighters spray water on what is left of a part of an apartment complex after the explosion on Wednesday night

Wendy Loayes, a young girl who lives in the damaged building, told NBC Washington she escaped when a stranger picked her up and carried her out

Much of the four-storey apartment block appears to have collapsed during the blaze

Locals heard a loud 'boom' and some felt their house shake during the explosion

The explosion was also declared a 'mass casualty incident', and Assistant Chief Hamill added the building is still in an 'extremely dangerous condition'.

Emergency services were called to the apartment complex after firefighters stationed about a mile away from the Flower Branch Apartments reportedly felt the explosion.

It is believed 28 units have been impacted and almost 100 people were forced to leave their homes after being woken up by the blast.

Large chunks of the apartment building were destroyed in the explosion and fire on Wednesday night in Maryland

People who lived in the building say they had been able to smell gas in the area over recent weeks prior to the blast

Fire fighters look through the debris of a four-story building that was destroyed in an explosion that has killed at least two people

Residents look at what is left of the apartment building after a massive explosion rocked it on Wednesday shortly before midnight

Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said those inside the building desperately tried to escape the fire.

'People were dropping children and jumping out of other windows,' he said, according to the Washington Post.

'Everybody was getting out of the building as rapidly as possible.'

Chief Goldstein went on to say a K-9 team searching through the rubble had a 'hit' shortly before 6:30am, which could mean at least one person is trapped underneath the debris.

A man points to what is left of a part of an apartment complex smoldering in ruin after an explosion destroyed the building

Emergency crews were still at the scene of the explosion on Thursday morning as the search continued for as many as seven people who were unaccounted for

Gabriel Mendoza, 37, (second from left) watches with others of what is left of the apartment complex where he and his family lived

The huge fire is seen burning at the apartment building in the early hours of Thursday morning

Locals said they heard a loud 'boom' and some felt their house shake during the explosion at the Flower Branch Apartments on Piney Branch Road.

Pictures from the scene show a blaze tearing through the residential building and debris from the explosion thrown more than 50 yards to a parking lot across the street.

Other images showed a door that had been blown off its hinges and flung from the apartment complex, while a series of pictures from WTOP showed the damage in the day-light on Thursday.

Dramatic footage also captured the moment two residents - a man and a woman - smashed through a window and climbed out to firefighters on a ladder.

A massive hole is seen in the middle of the apartment building where there was a fire and an explosion on Wednesday night

Firefighters at the scene of an apartment complex explosion in Montgomery County, where at least seven people are still missing

A man is treated in the street outside the apartment complex as other locals are seen gathered in the street

The two people clung to the ladder after getting out of the building, before climbing down to safety with the help of fire crews.

People could also be heard shouting in the video.

Investigators are currently unaware whether the explosion or the fire took place first.

Resident Mariama Turay told ABC7 'it sounded like an earthquake'. 'I grabbed my ID and I came out and I opened the door and then I saw this fire blazing right in front of me,' she said.

A woman climbs from the building to firefighters on a ladder as a man is seen standing inside the burning apartment complex

Fire crews worked quickly to rescue people from the burning building (left), before being seen helping two people down a ladder (right)

Firefighters and residents are pictured together outside of the apartment complex where the explosion took place on Wednesday night

Wendy Loayes, a young girl who lives in the building, told NBC Washington she escaped when a stranger picked her up and carried her out.

'The fire was next to me. I was so scared,' she said, before adding she was walking down the building's stairs with her mother when someone grabbed her and got her out of danger.

Eleven patients had been treated at the nearby Holy Cross Hospital and released by 7am.

The injuries, along with fractures and burns, also included respiratory issues.

The damage to the building is seen during daylight (left), as a firefighter sleeps in the street (right) after hours battling the blaze

A photo of the apartment complex shows what it looked like prior to the explosion shortly before midnight on Wednesday

A metal apartment door was blown off the building and landed across the street after flying across a parking lot

The department said it took about one hour and 45 minutes to get the fire under control, which happened after the building's gas supply was shut off.

Capt. Oscar Garcia tells The Associated Press the three firefighters injured are believed to have injuries that are not life-threatening.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Dee Howard Richards confirmed there had been a structure collapse in parts of a four level apartment building.

'Continuing to extinguish hot spots and account for occupants,' she said.

Rubble and wreckage can be seen covering the lawn in front of the apartment block

Around 100 firefighters were called to the scene just after midnight

Th explosion shattered a window at a beauty school across the road when debris hit it