3 children injured by house explosion in Detroit

3 kids hospitalized after Detroit house explosion

The cause of the explosion is still unknown, according to a Detroit Fire Department official. The three injured children were in the house next door with their dad.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - A neighborhood on Detroit's east side was rocked Tuesday afternoon after a two-story house exploded, sending three children to the hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown, according to a Detroit Fire Department official. The three hurt children were in the house next door with their dad; they sustained cuts, scrapes and bruises.

"They were in their own room, playing, and (the father) tried to get them out at the same time," said Jasmine Higgins, a neighbor. "But he couldn’t get them out."

Crews were at the scene, on Barlow Street near Seven Mile in Detroit, for several hours – putting out various hot spots amid the rubble where the house once stood.

Live SkyFOX pictures show the damage, leaving debris littered around the area after the house was leveled.

Neighboring houses were also damaged, including blown out windows. The debris could be found on top of vehicles parked in the area.

The roof was blown off and was stopped by trees in the backyard, above a garage.

"It’s not even a house anymore," Higgins said. "It’s not there. The roof is the trees."

Two-story house leveled in explosion, 3 kids suffer minor injuries

A house explosion in Detroit is under investigation as DTE Energy said that it did not appear to be caused by a gas leak.

The Fire Department was called at about 3 p.m. after numerous 911 calls were received.

It is believed that no one was inside the house at the time of the incident.

Remarkably, nobody else was injured from the explosion. Neighbors said they thought the house had been being worked on and that no one was living there at the time.

Watch: Detroit police and fire at scene of apparent home explosion on Barlow Street

SkyFOX was overhead as crews were at a suspected house explosion on Barlow Street near Seven Mile on Tuesday afternoon in Detroit.

"It did significant damage to the house next door," said Detroit Fire Chief James Harris. "The home of the explosion is a total loss."

"Hat's off to the men and women of the Detroit Fire Department, our medics," Harris continued. "We showed up, fast response."

Officials are asking citizens to stay away from the area if at all possible as the investigation continues.

The true scope of the damage has yet to be fully assessed.

DTE Energy released a statement regarding the explosion.

"At DTE Energy, the safety of our customers and communities is our top priority. This afternoon, we were alerted to an incident at a home in Detroit, and we have dispatched a DTE Gas crew to help make the scene safe while local authorities investigate. "