Explosion destroys New Jersey home, several trapped in rubble

A spokeswoman for the city of Elizabeth says at least three people are injured and up to five may be trapped after a house exploded in northern New Jersey.

The house at 1031 Magnolia Ave. exploded at about 8 a.m.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Mayor Chris Bollwage said three people had been flown to local hospitals for treatment. It’s unclear what injuries the other victims suffered.

Images from the scene show several people in stretchers with apparent wounds and burns.

Among the injured are a 1 ½-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl.

Elizabethtown Gas spokesman Duane Bourne said a preliminary investigation thus far has not linked the explosion at 1035 Magnolia Ave.to a natural gas leak.

The site is near one of the runways at Newark-Liberty worldwide Airport, but the explosion did not affect flights, the station reported. “The explosion actually tossed my bed upward, tossed me out of bed and knocked my phone out of my hand”. He said the first-floor tenants had just moved in.