Crime & Safety

Four-Month-Old Among Three Confirmed Dead in Allentown Explosion

Lehigh County coroner said recovery efforts continue to find two other victims.

Three people, including a four-month-old, perished in last night's at 13th and W. Allen streets in Allentown, officials said.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim declined to identify the victims, except to say they ranged from age four months to age 79.

However, various published reports say two of the dead were William Hall, 79, and his wife, Beatrice Hall, 74, who lived at 544 N. 13th St.

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Grim said recovery efforts continue at the blast scene to find the two missing people.

Allentown Fire Chief Bob Scheirer said two homes on the block were totally leveled by the blast and six others will eventually have to be razed. Scheirer said 47 properties in the neighborhood were impacted by either water, ice and other damage.

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Officials said 70 Allentown residents remain displaced. Eight residents were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries and were treated and released, officials said.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski thanked the efforts of local police and fire crews in addition to community organizations, businesses and residents that assisted with injured and displaced residents.

"Allentown is a very resilient city and we will work hard to get to the bottom of this and move on," he said. 

Officials said they believe a sixth person who was originally believed missing, Juan Maldonaldo of 519 N. 13th St., was not home at the time of the blast.

A second press conference will be held today at 4 p.m.


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