Update: Multiple injuries reported after explosions at Old World Village in Huntington Beach
Update: Multiple injuries reported after explosions at Old World Village in Huntington Beach
by Emily Rasmussen
Multiple injuries were reported after a series of utility pole explosions rocked the Old World Village complex in Huntington Beach on Saturday evening.
Among those possibly injured were patrons of the shopping and dining complex and fire personnel, said a Huntington Beach Fire Department dispatcher. The source of the explosions may have been an electrical transformer.
Fire personnel and “several patrons” suffered injuries in the blast, the dispatcher said.
While a heavy presence of fire and police personnel tended to the injured, hundreds of others attending an Oktoberfest event evacuated the area.
Multiple attendees recalled hearing and seeing the explosions take place at about 8:15 p.m. at the shopping and dining complex at 7561 Center Avenue.
One attendee, 26-year-old Megan Houck of Long Beach, said that she saw flames come from the floor near a patio area.
“It was just like one giant fireball that went up” she said. “And then there was a second explosion maybe 10 or 20 seconds later.”
Houck said that the flames went well above the roof of the village, possibly up to 35 to 40 feet high.
A few minutes before the first explosion, Houck said that the lights had shut off and on. Other witnesses reported apparent electrical problems before the first blast.
In all, Houck said she saw three explosions. Shortly after the third explosion, she evacuated.
Video posted on social media showed some of the explosions.
Third explosion in #oldworldvillage #Oktoberfest i hope everyone is alright. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/VNGQcuvNw9
— Koray
(@mnckry) October 6, 2019
Hundreds of people, with many clad in German garb, stood outside of the village as dozens of police and fire vehicles blocked off of Center Avenue and Huntington Beach Lane.
The power appeared to be shut off at Old World and a nearby hotel.
I’m at Old World in #HuntingtonBeach where people attending Oktoberfest say they heard what sounded like an explosion, then seeing flames. The event was evacuated and officials are here pic.twitter.com/3GemjjNQUP
— Emily Rasmussen (@rasmussenreport) October 6, 2019
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
City News Service contributed to this report.
All credit goes to Emily Rasmussen
Originally published on https://www.dailynews.com
