WATCH ABOVE: Raw video captured by a nearby resident’s dash cam shows the moment a home in Scarborough exploded.
TORONTO — One man has died and a woman was injured after an explosion rocked a Scarborough street Monday afternoon, flattening a home.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. at 3356 Brimley Rd., just north of Eagledance Drive. Toronto Fire Services said a natural gas leak was detected and rescue efforts were underway. Toronto Fire Services said as many as 12 nearby residences were also damaged.
UPDATED STORY: Fatal Toronto home explosion gas related, says Fire Marshal
WATCH: Aerial footage shows extent of damage after Scarborough home explodes
A neighbour told Global News reporter Angie Seth they heard a loud bang, looked outside and the house was gone.
Toronto Paramedic Services said a man who was the resident of the home was found without vital signs and pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has been identified as 57-year-old Paul Zigomanis, police say.
WATCH: A video shows the moment the north Scarborough house exploded, reducing it to a pile of rubble. Investigators are trying to piece together how it happened. Angie Seth reports.
A woman was also treated for minor injuries to her hand at the scene. Officials are still working to account for all the residents of the homes affected.
Brimley Road is currently closed from Steeles Ave. to Wenlock Gate. TTC buses on the 21 Brimley route are diverting in both directions, as a result of the investigation into the explosion.
Toronto Fire Services say that there is a natural gas leak in the area and 17 nearby homes have been evacuated, while crews work to shut off the leak.
Toronto fire Capt. Adrian Ratushniak told the Canadian Press firefighters have had to hold back their search through the debris for people who may have been injured until the gas leak has been stopped.
“There is just a hole in the ground,” Ratushniak said. “But we’ll be here all night until we have searched every inch of this place.”
Toronto police says crews from Enbridge Gas are on the scene.
Images posted to social media showed debris strewn across the yards and roofs of nearby homes near the house that was completely obliterated in the blast.
*With files from Andrew Russell
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