Cause of massive explosion that killed 2 and destroyed Indianapolis subdivision remains unknown

[Emily]

2 killed, others injured, some homes flattened, 27 uninhabitable, 80 damaged:
http://www.wthr.com/story/20064868/indianapolis-explosion-how-you-can-help

"I've been to many explosions...but I've not seen anything with this type of destruction that happened so quickly."​

Cause unknown but natural gas suspected with 2 possible causes ruled out:
http://www.wthr.com/story/20067901/source-of-indianapolis-explosion-still-unknown

Some pets evacuated, others running at large, frightened:
http://www.wthr.com/story/20066853/some-pets-evacuated-some-loose-in-explosion-area

Apparently all the affected homes have insurance and the community has been very supportive so human evacuees aren't in shelters, though the local pet shelter has offered temporary free shelter for pets.

This reminds me of the horrible San Bruno pipeline explosion in CA a couple of years ago, though I think that was an older neighborhood and there were reports of odors and other trouble prior to that one.

In this case, using Zillow data, this neighborhood was just built in 2000. Here is a map that details damages to homes if you click on the markers.
http://www.wthr.com/category/251036/southeast-side-explosion-map

General location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=fieldfare+way,+indianapolis&ll=39.645882,-86.098223&spn=0.018538,0.027595&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=Fieldfare+Way,+Indianapolis,+Marion,+Indiana+46237&gl=us&t=h&z=15

 

[Emily]

Re: Cause of massive explosion that killed 2 and destroyed Indianapolis subdivision remains unknown

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1113/Indiana-explosion-Area-treated-as-crime-scene-as-investigation-continues

Indiana explosion: Area treated as crime scene as investigation continues

Investigators have been looking at gas meters and pipelines as they try to figure out what happened Saturday night when a blast killed two people, obliterated two homes and left dozens more uninhabitable.

By Charles Wilson and Tom LoBianco, Associated Press / November 13, 2012

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/13/indianapolis-explosion/1702687/

 

[Emily]

Re: Cause of massive explosion that killed 2 and destroyed Indianapolis subdivision remains unknown

http://www.jconline.com/article/20121119/NEWS01/311190017/Prosecutor-homeland-security-chief-address-Indy-home-explosion-tonight

Foul play probed in fatal Indianapolis blast
11:43 PM, Nov 19, 2012
[snip]
For about three weeks, Alridge said, he had seen a white van in the neighborhood and in front of the house that is considered the epicenter of the blast...