BREAKING NEWS: One woman dead and two other people in serious condition after gas explosion in Baltimore destroyed three homes and trapped victims, including children, under the rubble

One woman has been killed and another two people are in a critical condition after a deadly gas explosion destroyed at least three homes in Baltimore and trapped victims, including children, under the rubble. 

Baltimore Fire confirmed an adult female was pronounced dead at the scene and two other victims were pulled from the rubble and remain in a critical condition following a ‘major explosion’ at Labyrinth and Reisterstown Road just before 10 a.m. Monday morning. 

At least one other person is still trapped under the debris and 200 emergency responders are now on scene frantically trying to rescue them and locate other survivors. 

Desperate family members and neighbors have gathered at the scene for news of their loved ones as it remains unclear how many people are still unaccounted for.

Shocking images from the scene show at least three row homes completely reduced to rubble while the windows in nearby properties are blown out in the wake of the devastating blast that was heard several blocks away. 

At least one person has been killed and another two are in a critical condition after a ‘major explosion’ in Baltimore (above)

It is not clear how many people are unaccounted for but local media reports say desperate family members have gathered at the scene

One woman is dead and another two people are in a critical condition following the blast

The deadly gas explosion ripped through at least three homes in Baltimore and trapped victims, including children, under the rubble

Shocking images from the scene show at least three row homes completely reduced to rubble while the windows in nearby properties are blown out in the wake of the devastating blast that was heard several blocks away

Neighbors have gathered outside the explosion site in Baltimore where a gas explosion leveled three homes Monday morning

Local firefighters were called to the area of the 6500 block of Reisterstown Road Monday morning after the massive explosion ripped through several homes. 

Initial reports said five people, including children, were trapped inside and that a collapse response and second alarm had been called.   

Baltimore police scanners said they were responding to a ‘mass casualty’ that impacted a three block radius and ‘completely destroyed’ three homes. 

‘We are borderline mass casualty at this point. This explosion has affected at least a three block radius up here,’ a police scanner said.

‘Three dwellings completely destroyed.’   

Three victims in a critical condition were pulled from the rubble by firefighters a short time later, with one person – an adult woman – pronounced dead at the scene. 

At least one other person is still trapped and firefighters are communicating with them to try to get them out.

Firefighters are still searching for other survivors and off duty special rescue operations personnel have been drafted in to support the rescue operation ‘due to the complexity and size of this incident’, Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 tweeted.

Baltimore Fire confirmed the tragedy was caused by a gas explosion and officials from Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. were pictured on the scene.  

Baltimore Gas and Electric spokesperson Richard Yost told Baltimore Sun the company was on the scene. 

‘We are on the scene and working closely with the fire department to make the situation safe,’ Yost said. 

‘Crews are working to turn off gas to the buildings in the immediate area. Once the gas is off we can begin to safely assess the situation including inspections of BGE equipment.’

No further details of the cause of the blast are yet known and it is not clear how many people may still be trapped inside.  

Around 200 emergency services personnel are on the scene of the devastating blast 

Horrifying images from the scene show the homes completely destroyed and collapsed to rubble.

Aerial images show nothing but bricks and rubble where the homes once stood, while debris is seen scattered all over the surrounding homes in the area.

Across the street from the blast, at least four homes had their windows blown out from the force of the explosion.

Firefighters were pictured at the scene raking through the debris as dust filled the air and were using a chainsaw to cut through the roof of a building that had collapsed.

One survivor Major Watkins Jr., an 88-year-old army veteran whose home was destroyed in the explosion, told The Baltimore Sun the blast ‘sounded like Korea.’