House explosion rocks west Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — An explosion has leveled a house in Springfield and damaged eight others, but authorities say no one was injured.

The blast occurred at 3:42 p.m. Thursday, reducing the home to a flat pile of debris on the city's west side.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but natural gas was shut off to all homes in the area as a precaution.

Springfield radio station KTTS/94.7 FM reported that residents of the destroyed home were at a restaurant at the time.

Other homes suffered lighter damage, including broken windows.

The radio station said the blast could be felt across west Springfield.