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Six construction workers were hospitalized after a natural gas explosion at a high-rise under construction in downtown Houston, according to the Houston Fire Department.
The incident occurred just after 11 a.m. Thursday at 1319 Texas Avenue, where a Holiday Inn property is being developed ahead of a planned December opening. Emergency crews, including HFD HAZMAT, were dispatched to the scene as a precaution following reports of a blast and visible fire activity.
In its afternoon update, the Houston Fire Department confirmed the number of injured workers and provided preliminary insight into the source of the explosion.
"This appears to be a pressure situation with a tankless water heater, where a natural gas line exploded, causing the windows to blow out and a fire to flare up quickly," officials said.
The explosion shattered windows and sparked a fast-moving fire, but firefighters were able to contain the flames before they spread further throughout the structure.
HFD confirmed the following:
At the time of the blast, only construction crews were on site.
Due to the reported explosion and fuel source, HFD HAZMAT teams were activated to monitor gas levels and ensure there were no ongoing risks. The fire department emphasized that their rapid response helped stabilize the area and prevent any secondary incidents.
The high-rise hotel, still in its final construction phase, was not occupied by guests or staff outside of contracted workers. Authorities are working with site supervisors and utility experts to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the gas line failure.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
Originally reported by Taylor Helmes in 25 ABC Central Texas News.
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