Gas Explosion Injures One, Evacuates Perth Amboy Buildings

A gas leak led to an explosion in a building on Hall Avenue, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, injuring one passerby with non-life-threatening injuries and prompting the evacuation of nearby buildings. The explosion caused significant damage to a first-floor food business, blowing out its windows and starting a fire, which was promptly controlled by fire crews. Residents of the building, including a third-floor family, have been relocated with assistance from the Red Cross. Elizabethtown Gas secured the gas main, allowing firefighters to extinguish the fire. The incident is under investigation by the Perth Amboy Fire Department's Fire Investigation Unit. Authorities emphasize the importance of reporting gas smells immediately to prevent such occurrences.