Homes in Indianapolis blast to be razed

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INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Thirty-three unoccupied homes -- damaged beyond repair in a Nov. 10 gas explosion in Indianapolis -- will be demolished, officials said.

The city's Code Enforcement Department said it will demolish six homes Monday that were among those closest to the house that first exploded. Six more, less seriously damaged, will be bulldozed Dec. 3, and 17 more will fall Dec. 20.

Law enforcement officials said the house at the center of explosion was full of gas and are investigating to determine whether the blast was set off remotely.

The incident, which destroyed a neighborhood and killed two people, is being treated as a homicide, the Indianapolis Star said Thursday.

Ninety of the 125 homes in the Richmond Hill subdivision sustained damage, the newspaper said.

Code Enforcement administrator Adam Collins said four houses at the center of the blast will stand because they are regarded as evidence in the criminal probe.