At least 3 killed and 5 injured in Dallas explosion, officials say

CBS News reports that A large explosion after a reported gas leak leveled a Dallas apartment building and prompted a massive response from Dallas Fire-Rescue on Thursday afternoon.

At least three people were killed and at least five people were injured, officials confirmed.The address, 409 E 9th St., corresponds to the Clyde apartment building, formerly known as the El Ricardo.

It is located just east of the Bishop Arts neighborhood, north of the Dallas Zoo and south of downtown.Aerial images showed a severely damaged building with flames and thick black smoke pouring from the wreckage.

Fire crews had contained the flames by 4 p.m., DFR said, except hot spot flare-ups occurring as fire personnel continue combing through debris from the collapsed two-story structure.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Fire Chief James Russ confirmed that at about 12:47 p.m., crews responded to a gas leak call at the apartment complex.

And shortly after, the explosion happened.