UPDATED: Red Cross Assists 25 Impacted by Romeoville Explosion

ROMEOVILLE, IL — The American Red Cross continued to help dozens of people Wednesday following a Tuesday night gas explosion in Romeoville.

Volunteers from the Red Cross Disaster Action Team arrived on scene around 9 p.m. Tuesday to meet with the 13 impacted families, ensuring their members had safe overnight shelters. Teams will continue to follow up with the group of 25, two of whom are children, to determine additional health and disaster relief needs, according to a news release.

Most streets reopened by 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Wespark subdivision, but Romeoville police said Wespark Boulevard would remain closed "until further notice."

Emergency personnel secured the scene Tuesday and thereafter, set up a command center to field residents' questions, village officials said. A donation fund will be established for the families and associated information will be available at Romeoville.org. Those interested in contributing may also call the village manager's office at 815-886-5778.

Lockport Fire Protection District and the Romeoville Fire Department responded to the explosion at around 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Strawflower Court and Wespark Boulevard in Romeoville. Nicor employees were in the process of repairing a gas leak, which was reported earlier in the afternoon.

Two townhouse units have been destroyed due to the explosion. No injuries to residents have been reported, but two Nicor workers have been injured. One is in serious condition and the other reportedly has minor injuries, according to the Village. Both have been transported to the hospital.

Valley View School District 365U Director of School and Community Relations Larry Randa said classes at nearby Hermansen Elementary School will go on as scheduled Wednesday. The road closures in the neighborhood will not affect bus routes.