Investigation into natural gas explosion in Floresville expected to be completed soon

FLORESVILLE, Texas – The investigation into the cause of a gas pipeline explosion in Floresville is expected to be completed soon.

Andy Joslin, Floresville’s city manager, said results could be available as early as late Thursday afternoon.

According to the city, a crew installing fiber optic cables in the area near H Street and 9th Street on Tuesday afternoon accidentally hit an underground gas line, initially causing only a gas leak.

Ultimately, however, an explosion occurred that destroyed one house and damaged at least ten others.

“I was just laying in my room and heard a loud bang,” said Dylan Ximenez. “I was scared.”

Although emergency responders reportedly went door to door asking residents to evacuate because of the gas leak, Ximenez said he stayed in his home.

He didn’t want to try to evacuate with three pets in tow.

“All the frames came off the wall. Pictures fell down. A mirror fell down,” he described the impact.

When it was all over, only one window in the house he rents was broken.

Others in the neighborhood didn’t fare so well.

There are houses all over the area with boarded-up windows. One across from Ximenez caught fire and is now a pile of rubble.

Joslin said the city is working to provide assistance to the victims.

“We’re working with Rise Broadband, the internet company that provides the infrastructure here in Floresville,” Joslin said. “We’ll be working with their insurance company to see how quickly we can help the citizens.”

In the meantime, he said, victims can call Floresville City Hall for information and answers to any questions they may have.

Joslin said steps have also been taken to minimize future dangers.

“We have currently stopped all construction work that requires underground excavations,” he said.

Coincidentally, a crew member apparently ignored this order.

While KSAT 12 News was in Floresville on Thursday, firefighters and police responded to another scene where workers had encountered an underground gas line.

The incident occurred along Highway 181, less than a quarter mile from the site of Tuesday’s explosion.

However, there was no explosion in the most recent gas leak and no injuries were reported.