ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A quiet morning in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was shattered by a house explosion that rocked a neighborhood on the 700 block of South Seventh Street. The explosion occurred at approximately 6 a.m., causing the closure of nearby streets and sending one person to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
The house was completely destroyed in the explosion, and the authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blast. A man who was inside the home at the time of the explosion was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Nearby homes also sustained damage as a result of the explosion.
Eyewitnesses in the neighborhood described the terrifying experience of the explosion. Fred Hutchinson, a neighbor who lives across the street, recounted being jolted awake by the blast. He immediately went to investigate and saw flames inside the destroyed house. Within moments, the house completely collapsed, leaving behind a harrowing scene.
Another witness, Paul Schrems, who lives nearby, compared the sound of the explosion to that of a bomb going off. The force of the blast was so powerful that it could be heard from a considerable distance.
In the aftermath of the explosion, Ann Arbor police shared photos on social media showing the raging fire and billowing clouds of smoke. They also issued warnings of street closures in the area as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Residents and commuters in the area were urged to steer clear of the affected roadways between West Davis and West Madison until the situation was under control. As the investigation into the cause of the explosion continues, the community is left shaken by the unexpected and destructive event.