EUSTIS, Fla. – Investigators continued combing the scene after a powerful explosion gutted a jewelry store on South Eustis Street, injured one person critically and scattered debris across the block, officials said. The cause of the blast remains undetermined.
Emergency crews responded, and one individual was critically injured and airlifted to a hospital, city officials reported.
Deborah Flaherty, director of the Open Door Homeless Service Program located across the street from the jewelry store, said people in nearby businesses were shaken by the blast. “We were in the front room here organizing clothes for the homeless, and we heard a loud boom,” she said.
Flaherty added that she was relieved no fatalities were reported. “We saw a poor lady stumbling out of the building with her dog, and the ambulance was right there,” she said.
[BELOW: Eustis jewelry store explosion and fire leave 1 person hurt]
Witnesses described debris — including glass and metal — falling all over the block. Gene Ryals, a contractor with more than 20 years of experience working with gas lines, said the explosion underscored the hazard posed by underground utilities. “It kind of wakes you up a little bit, to know what you are dealing with. There are gas lines beneath us right now; if there is an explosion, we’re done,” Ryals said.
Officials said the jewelry store itself did not have active gas service and that the interior of the building was primarily electrical. At the same time, utility crews were working to address a reported gas leak in the area and had just isolated that leak before the blast, city representatives said. Officials asked nearby residents and businesses to evacuate as a precaution, though the order was not mandatory for everyone.
Chief Mike Swanson of the Eustis Fire Department issued a statement saying, “Our crews responded quickly to bring the scene under control,” and thanked partnering agencies for their assistance.
TECO Peoples Gas provided a statement to News 6 saying the incident is under investigation and that the company is cooperating with local fire department officials, who are leading the probe.
Florida’s State Fire Marshal’s Office has taken the lead on the investigation into the cause of the explosion.