Explosion caused by gas leak leaves one dead and 16 wounded in the US

One person died and 16 were injured by an explosion and a fire caused by a gas leak on Wednesday in the city of Elizabeth, in the state of New Jersey, in the United States, according to official sources told local media.

The accident destroyed a two-story home and hit seven buildings nearby, three of which will need to be demolished by the severe damage suffered.

According to the channel 12 of the New Jersey television, there is still a person who may be missing. The victim has not been identified officially, but it's a grown man. The city's mayor, Christian Bollwage, told reporters that among the wounded there is a child of 11 years.

The authorities pointed out a gas leak as the cause of the blast, according to initial assumptions. Locals said it was possible to feel a strong smell of gas before the accident.