(CMR) A house exploded in Bayfield Cresent, off Hirst Road in Bodden Town, this afternoon, sending at least one person to hospital with serious injuries. Persons are theorizing it may have been a gas explosion, but numerous investigators are on location, including Home Gas, Fire Service Investigators and OfReg.
The explosion was so powerful that windows and other sections of closeby houses were shattered. The house across the street had its front door torn off and houses on the roads over also sustained structural damage, including blown-out windows and ripped sheetrock. One resident shared she heard the noise from as far as Prospect.
CMR sources revealed that two kids and one male adult were at the residence at the time of the incident. Police confirmed that four persons were injured as a result of the explosion and are currently being treated by emergency medical services. They also stated that the residence received major damage, while some nearby structures were also damaged.
The 2,000 square foot house, owned by a Caymanian lady, is a rental property and is listed for sale for CI$640,000 and boasts a 10% ROI claiming “low maintenance costs and gross rental income of CI$66,000.00 per annum.” CMR understands from sources on the location that the house cannot, in fact, be sold because it's subject to a planning enforcement order because the additions made to the residence were not approved.
In March, she applied for after-the-fact approval but has not yet paid the respective feeds to have it approved.
The area has been cordoned off by police, and members of the public are advised to avoid the area. CMR was live on location shortly after the incident. Livestream links can be viewed here:
After 4:00 pm, the police issued an advisory asking the public to please obey the police cordons at the explosion site and avoid the area as onsite investigations were still ongoing and police and other emergency services are still at the location.
Police have implemented cordons at the location for the protection of the public and to maintain the integrity of the scene. The Cayman Islands Fire Service is currently working to make the scene safe and identify the source of the explosion.
While this is being done, the public is being asked to avoid this area and to remain outside of the established cordons placed by the police. Additionally, there may be places where debris is present that have not been cordoned off. The public is also being asked, for their safety, to avoid this area until the authorities have deemed the area safe.
Breaching police cordons is an offense according to section 49(3) of the Police Act (2021 Revision), and anyone who contravenes a police cordon commits an offense and is liable to a fine of $3000 or to imprisonment for one year or to both.
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