‘Get out!’ 911 calls detail panic after Plantation shopping center blast
She was among the many who phoned 911 after an explosion in Plantation that injured nearly two dozen people, leveled a building and damaged surrounding properties.
Recordings of the frightening moments after the explosion were released Thursday. Scores of callers reported plumes of smoke and flying debris -- and some were just calling 911 to ask what happened.
"There's a massive explosion," a man says, "It's definitely hurt people."
"Relax, baby, it's OK," he says to someone at the site, then to the dispatcher: "Please send help."
"It looks like a bomb went off to be honest with you," another man says. He stops talking to 911 to try to shoo people away from the scene: "Guys, go to your cars and get out! Go across the street, it's a gas leak!"
The city released the calls in response to a public records request by the
Twenty-three people were hurt in the
"It sounded like a bomb went off," said a woman who had been inside
The dispatcher replied, "If you're not hurt I have to let you go."
The cause of the blast remains under investigation.
The release of the 911 calls comes days after the city declared several buildings unsafe.
The city said Monday in a written statement that "the city's
The next day, an email from the city clerk's office said: "All buildings within the fenced area have been declared and posted unsafe structures, some of these will be demolished and some will be repaired."
A
"EDENS is diligently working with all parties involved to determine the appropriate course of action," according to the firm's emails. "Because the investigation and site assessment with building officials is ongoing, the company does not have any further information to share at this time."
Plantation city officials have provided scant information about any possible causes. Mayor
Some of the affected business owners are "still in the dark," said attorney
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'Get out!' 911 calls detail panic after Plantation shopping center blast
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"There's no clear timeline when any of these shops can open," he said.
The explosion investigation now rests with the state
"I'm fine with investigators taking all the time they need," said Councilman
"They need to pursue every angle, whatever that is. The city did its job by declaring the structures unsafe. Now the property owner probably has to consult with the insurance agents to determine whether the building is something that's totaled or something that's fixable -- kind of like what happens after you crash your car. All of that is beyond the city's control."
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