KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A popular restaurant in an entertainment district here became engulfed in towering flames on Tuesday evening after a gas main exploded, rattling the earth, leaving shards of glass and brick strewn about and injuring more than a dozen people, some severely.
There were no initial reports of deaths, said Rhonda Flores, a spokeswoman for the Police Department. Late Tuesday, firefighters were searching through the rubble with dogs for any signs of people trapped inside the restaurant, named JJ's.
Missouri Gas Energy, the gas company for the area, said in a statement on Tuesday night that "early indications are that a contractor doing underground work struck a natural gas line, but the investigation continues." The company has shut off gas to the area, the statement said.
Many people in surrounding buildings had complained of a strong smell of gas during the day. Because of the odor, JJ's was not operating its kitchen at the time of the blast, KSHB-TV reported. Soon after inspectors from the gas company told people at the restaurant to leave, the building exploded, the station reported. It was shortly after 6 p.m., Ms. Flores said.
Five victims were being treated on Tuesday night at the University of Kansas Hospital, with one in critical condition and two in serious condition, said Bob Hallinan, a hospital spokesman. They were injured by debris, not burned, Mr. Hallinan said. The hospital expected to receive a burn victim from another hospital, he said.
A physician at St. Luke's Hospital said at a news conference that it had two victims in critical condition, one with severe burns and one with severe cuts, and six others who had walked in for treatment.
Speaking to reporters near the scene of the blaze, David Frantze, the brother of the restaurant's owner, Jimmy Frantze, described a sober sight. "To come down here and see a hole in the ground, the flames, is a pretty staggering experience," he said.
The fire burned for more than an hour, leaving residents who had been evacuated from nearby buildings standing on the sidewalks on a frigid evening. The smoke could be seen high in the air from miles away. Rubble was littered about the building.
Jimmy Frantze has owned JJ's for more than a quarter-century, according to the restaurant's Web site. It is near Country Club Plaza, an outdoor shopping and dining district.
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