Crime & Safety
1 Injured In USC Explosion; Science Building Evacuated
A hazardous materials team has been called to the scene to investigate the cause of the explosion amid reports of a gas leak.
LOS ANGELES, CA — One person was injured in a possible gas leak explosion at a USC science building, triggering an evacuation Thursday afternoon
The person was able to walk out of the three-story building of their own accord, but it wasn't immediately clear how serious their injuries were nor how large the explosion was. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the person was transported to a nearby hospital.
The blast was reported at about 4 p.m. in the Neely Petroleum Building at 923 Bloom Walk, according to the fire department and USC Department of Public Safety.
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
USC Department of Public Safety announced via Twitter that there was a gas leak at the building, but LAFD officials could not immediately confirm that report.
"The involved products or process have not been identified," LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said in a written release. "The building is being evacuated and the LAFD HazMat task force is being requested for a thorough investigation. There is NO active fire hazard."
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
