Bathroom Explosion At Van Nuys Apartment Building Injures 3

VAN NUYS, CA — Three people were hospitalized Thursday morning after an explosion at a Van Nuys apartment building that occurred while work was being done in a bathroom, according to authorities.

Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded shortly before 10 a.m. to reports of smoke coming from a multistory apartment building in the 14500 block of Hartland Street, west of Van Nuys Boulevard, according to the department.

"It was some work being done on a bathroom that caused some sort of explosion," LAFD spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton said.

Three people were taken to a hospital. Their ages, genders and conditions were not immediately available.

Other workers at the building were evacuated, ABC 7 reported.

Video from the station showed debris scattered across the ground floor, where the explosion appeared to have occurred.

The LAFD's Urban Search and Rescue team and a hazardous materials team were dispatched to the scene, ABC 7 reported.

Inspectors from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety were also called to investigate and assess the building's structural integrity.

City News Service contributed to this report.