A large natural gas explosion demolished a house at 10708 Paiute Way, Rancho Cordova, California, the day before Christmas.

It shook the neighborhood for miles in every direction. PG&E recently replaced one of the sections of pipe that was leaking the natural gas though they did not replace the entire pipe line. Then the problem reoccurred

The house at the end of the street also had called in and reported the smell of gas two days earlier mentioned Al, having had his window blown out 10 houses away and was one of the first people on the scene. He and some other younger people around his age were helping pull people out of the debris and get them help and to safety, "People were under the debris, the electricity still popped and sparked" Said Al. One man wouldn't have been found without sticking his hand out from underneath the rubble. The blast was so powerful one woman in the house had her clothes blown off, burnt and melted to her skin from the heat and force of the explosion. She was wrapped in a blanked and set on the curve shaking, comforted by friends and neighbors that were first on the scene.

The PG&E worker that was looking for the leak was blown out 30-40 feet into the middle of the street.

Local residents mention their cell phones stopped working and it took over 20 min for the fire department to respond. Al mentioned how the local TV networks underplayed the magnitude of the explosion.

The next day, Christmas Day, there was no investigation or police presence to protect the scene. The street was dark and quiet, no roads block, no checkpoints; glass still covered the streets, with no one around. You could see the piles of debris surrounded by a temporary chained linked fence. As the sun came up the next morning people from the neighborhood started showing up. Vicky stared at the lot "I don't understand this world anymore" reflecting on her mothers recent death then this, her neighbor dies, she was very emotional and was looking for answers as was everyone else that came out the next morning.

The owner of the house, Wilbert Paana, age 72 died, 5 people were injured, 2 of them were in critical condition and taken to the local hospitals. One of these critically injured was the PG&E worker who initially responded to the call.

A house off to the side of 10708 had the door blown open. Hildegard, age 70 was at home when everything along the walls was thrown onto the floor. She heard the explosion and went for the front door, it was jammed. Waiting inside, a neighbor came to the back of the house asking if she was alright and needed help, she was alright but she was later ordered to evacuate here home where she lives with here daughter Ramona.

Don living over 2 miles away heard the explosion. Everyone tried to explain the strength of this blast. Comparing it to explosions heard and felt in World War II and The Vietnam War. From grenades to multiple sticks of dynamite, according to Don, this was more powerful than any of those that he had experienced.

Overwhelmed, people gathered on the street, today is Christmas. This is a tragic incident that could have been prevented. There is an Evacuation Center located at White Rock Elementary School

PG&E stated they would be launching an investigation? I think there should be an independent investigation and find those negligent to be held accountable...

From Alekz Londos