Fatal Gas Explosion Kills Three, Reduces Oak Cliff Apartments to Rubble
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An investigation is ongoing following a gas-related explosion at an Oak Cliff apartment building Thursday afternoon that killed at least three people and injured several others.
Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel worked into the night searching through the smoldering wreckage of what was once The Clyde — a two-story, 23-unit multifamily property in the 400 block of East 9th Street, just a couple of hundred feet from W. H. Adamson High School.
Officials said an emergency call about a gas leak came in at 12:47 p.m. First responders arrived within two minutes, but an explosion occurred while they were en route, resulting in a five-alarm fire. Around 100 firefighters responded to the scene to fight the blaze, and a plume of smoke could be seen from miles around.
Heavy equipment was used to remove what few unstable sections of the building were still standing while emergency personnel combed through debris by hand to locate victims. By the late afternoon, the search had transitioned from a rescue to a recovery operation.
A family reunification center was established at W. H. Adamson High, where school just let out for the summer the day before. The city later announced hotel accommodations for displaced residents. Emergency management officials also directed family members seeking information about loved ones to contact the city’s 311 system, where a dedicated response team had been established.
“The needs of our neighbors will be great. But the most important thing we can — and must — do as a community right now is pray,” Mayor Eric Johnson said in a statement. “We must pray for the individuals who tragically lost their lives, and we must pray for their families as they endure this unforeseen grief. We must pray for the injured, and we must pray for those who have lost their homes and their belongings. In the coming days and weeks, we must come together to support them and help them recover from this tragedy.
It’s unclear how many people are displaced as a result of the explosion, but damage was also sustained at some adjacent problems where windows were blown out as a result of the blast.
Jason Evans, a public information officer for Dallas Fire-Rescue, said at a press conference that two women and a child were killed in the explosion and subsequent fire. Their identities were not released, but Dallas County Democratic Party precinct chair Sylvia Collins, who lives in The Clyde, was unaccounted for as of Thursday evening.
“Sylvia is a tireless advocate for our community,” the party said on social media. “We are holding Sylvia, her family, and all those who love her close in our hearts as we await more information.”
Three people were transported to local hospitals by emergency responders, including one person listed in critical but stable condition. Two additional individuals sought treatment on their own for minor injuries.
Witnesses, including residents, said some kind of work was being done at the property or on the adjacent street. Onésimo Mendoza told The Dallas Morning News that jackhammering was involved.
“I can confirm that the city had no active work in that area,” Dallas Transportation Director Gus Khankarli said during a press conference.
Utility service provider Atmos Energy said “a construction crew unrelated to Atmos Energy damaged a natural gas pipeline near 409 E. 9th Street in Dallas.” Company technicians went to the site to assist Dallas Fire-Rescue, and natural gas service in the immediate area is currently shut down.
It’s unclear how many Atmos customers in the area will be affected or for how long. Back in 2018, a natural gas explosion in Northwest Dallas that killed a 12-year-old girl on Española Drive prompted the utility company to shut off gas service to roughly 2,800 homes while crews replaced portions of the neighborhood’s gas distribution system. It took a couple of weeks to complete the work.
The Clyde is operated by Revival Property Company. The firm’s owner, real estate investor Samuel Aflalo, has a 25% ownership stake in the property. The other 75% is owned by Florida-based Sir Julian LLC, according to the Dallas County Appraisal District.
City documents show the real estate development outfit O-SDA Industries, LLC has been looking to link the site with 308 E 8th St. on the opposite side of the block to build an 82-unit workforce housing project called Rosette Park.
A filing for a predevelopment meeting in DallasNow linked to the two addresses under the project name “Historic Preservation” shows an anticipated permit submission date in September of this year, with new construction expected in March 2027 and completion in December.
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So many unanswered questions. Lord have mercy.