At least 2 killed in explosion at Silver Spring, Md., apartment complex

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Montgomery County, Md., fire officials said at least two people were killed in a Silver Spring apartment complex Thursday after an explosion and subsequent fire.

The identities of the victims remain unknown. Authorities previously said up to seven people were missing after the incident, but Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Russ Hamill said it was unclear how many people could have died at the Flower Branch Apartments.

Search dogs were deployed to find missing people. Part of the building collapsed after the explosion late Wednesday. At least 34 people were hurt, some sustaining minor injuries while others' were more serious, including burns and fractures from people who jumped out of windows.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. There are gas stoves and furnaces in each apartment. Some residents said they smelled gas before the explosion. About 160 firefighters responded to the incident. Authorities warned that additional nearby buildings are also at risk of collapse.

Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said 98 people have been displaced from 28 apartments.

"People were dropping children and jumping out of other windows,'' Goldstein said. "Everybody was getting out of the building as rapidly as possible.''