NewsLeak

A leak of propane gas in a Prunedale, California, home recently resulted in a hospital trip for two members of the household.

According to a report in The Californian, the leak occurred inside the home on Thursday, July 28, around 10:40 a.m.

"The propane gas explosion ignited from an unknown emission source blew out the windows and knocked out the home's walls," North County Fire Protection district chief Humberto Arista told the news source. "A neighbor felt the concussion of the explosion. That's how powerful it was."

Crews immediately responded to the call and have been working on the site ever since. The condition of the two injured in the event is unknown.

Pieces of the home's walls were blown nearly a foot from the property, while shattered glass was found as far as 60 feet away. A subsequent fire was ignited because of the explosion as well.

In all, the property loss totaled close to $100,000, while damages to belongings inside the home were $5,000.

Arista advised anyone that detected a propane or natural gas leak to immediately evacuate the structure and call 911. Making sure that propane tank valves are shut is also highly important, he relayed. 

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, a recent sewage leak has forced officials in New York City to close several of its beaches along the Hudson River.

The leak heightened the amount of bacteria in the waters surrounding Sea Gate Beach in Brooklyn, as well as South Beach, Midland Beach and Cedar Grover Beach in Staten Island. The beaches will remain closed until further notice.

Other beaches in Staten Island did not have the same elevated level of bacteria, however, officials have closed them as well out of precaution.

The sewage leak is believed to have occurred after a fire erupted in a Harlem treatment plant on Wednesday, July 27. Officials on both sides of the Hudson River have continued to test water samples in the wake of the disaster.

Local officials have urged boaters, swimmers and water skiers to stay out of the waters between the George Washington and Verrazano Narrows bridges until the potentially hazardous bacteria has declined to normal levels.  

The Eldersburg Patch reported that a blocked pipe is to blame for the massive sewage leak that occurred in Eldersburg, Maryland, recently.

Due to the blockage, 3,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled from a manhole in a local neighborhood and ran into a close by section of road.

The town's local utilities company was contacted about the event, and responded with crews on the scene soon after. The spill continued to flow through several hundred feet of grass and lowlands nearby before entering streams that dump into Piney Run Creek.

After analyzing the event, crews determined that a blockage of PVC pipe, along with grease and rags found in the sewer main, all contributed to the leak. The blockage was then treated by the responding crews and restored the normal flow less than an hour and a half after the incident occurred.

Local citizens have been warned about avoiding contact with the contaminated area until further noticed. Signs have also been posted regarding the issue.  

According to a report from ABC affiliate WJLA in Germantown, Maryland, one of the local neighborhoods was recently evacuated after a gas leak occurred.

In all, 70 people and three dozen homes were evacuated after the leak was detected. Crews immediately responded to the scene to fix the broken gas line.

While many of those evacuated have been allowed back in their homes, crews have told some to remain away from their properties until gas levels drop. The gas line involved with the break was shut off by a local company soon after the detection.

One local spokesperson for the region believes the gas line was struck, however, no definitive word has been relayed yet.

Gas leaks have been prevalent in the news recently, as many natural gas breaks have been noted, causing evacuations and increased dangers for citizens residing close to the outbreak.

Anyone that detects such a leak is advised to contact their local officials to deal with the situation.