Osceola, AR – At least one home has been destroyed and another 8 damaged in an early morning explosion.
It happened today around 5:20 along Mockingbird Lane on the west side of Osceola (Mississippi County). The blast occurred at 117 Mockingbird Lane, according to Osceola Fire Chief Phillip Fleming.
Debbie Porter was injured in the explosion that destroyed her home. Chief Fleming says she was able to walk out of the rubble. She was first taken to an Osceola hospital before being flown to Regional One in Memphis. She had some burns to the upper part of her body. A spokesperson at the Regional said Porter is in serious condition.
Chief Fleming says investigators believe the explosion may have been caused by natural gas. A crew from the gas company was testing the lines at last report.
In the damaged homes there was broken glass, damaged sheetrock and items knocked off the walls. There were no other injuries.
“The glass was just it started busting out like the curtains were coming and flying in the air it was scary,” said Cassandra Harris, who lives in a neighboring home.
“That’s when I ran to the door and I looked across the street and the house it just blew up,” said neighbor Andre Harris.
“It look like something you seen in the movie like it was set up or something.”
A Red Cross disaster team is on the scene providing assistance to victims.