Home Explosion in New Jersey Damages Houses

A house has exploded in Paterson, New Jersey, damaging at least two others, according to reports.

Officials are investigating a gas leak in the area, the New York Daily News reported on Oct.4.

ABC7 reported that at least two more homes were damaged.

Firefighters and police officers respond to house explosion and subsequent fire in Paterson, New Jersey. https://t.co/BLddikW4Of pic.twitter.com/X34vHdZkAK

— ABC News (@ABC) October 4, 2016

2 homes destroyed in explosion, fire in New Jersey. https://t.co/xJA8QrCTSP pic.twitter.com/AkuTkBQSkw

— necn (@NECN) October 4, 2016

Paterson City Councilman Andre Sayegh confirmed to the Daily News that no one was hurt. “Above everything, no one was hurt,” he said. Sayegh said a homeowner called officials to report the smell of gas.

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“It sounded like a bomb,” Alberto Volpe, a resident who lives nearby, told local paper the Record. “We thought it was a terrorist attack.”

The incident took place at Goshen Street in Paterson at around 9:25 a.m. local time.

“There was a very gassy smell,” said Laura, a woman who works nearby. “I walked out and saw a whole bunch of people running.”

Ahmad Hasan, 18, who lives on a nearby street, was woken up by the explosion.

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“I thought I was in a dream,” he said. “I went out and all I saw was dust and smoke. It smelled like gas.”

Firefighters, law enforcement, and PSE&G officials are on the scene.

“God forbid someone was in there,” Hasan added. “It was crazy.”