At approximately 4:45pm this afternoon, Peel Regional Police tweeted that an explosion had taken place at Dixie and Rathburn Road East in Mississauga:
Reports of an explosion on Hickory Dr, Dixie and Rathburn Rd E. area, PRP, Fire and EMS on scene. Please avoid the area. Updates to follow.
— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPoliceMedia) June 28, 2016
Around that time, social media also began to fill up with images and videos of smoke clouds and destruction:
Video footage of explosion or fire in #Mississaugapic.twitter.com/JfTl0fU51i
— Dina (@Dinaliciouss) June 28, 2016
And reports are now coming in that more than one home has been levelled from the blast:
NOW: Multiple homes explode in Mississauga, Ontario; Responders search for survivors
MORE –https://t.co/H2m9RHk6tn pic.twitter.com/djmyX6TQdp
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 28, 2016
No official report yet on how many people have been injured or killed in the explosion but first responders are currently on the scene. This chilling street-side video certainly presents a bleak aftermath though. Our thoughts are with the residents of Mississauga.
More as we get it.
House explosion in mississauga @680NEWS pic.twitter.com/dy2L89P5tS
— VazPhotography (@VazPhotography) June 28, 2016