At Least 5 Injured in Oregon Gas Explosion

A gas-related explosion blew apart a building in northwestern Portland, shaking the ground, according to reports. The blast injured five people and knocked out what looked like the entire facade of a nearby structure, according to Portland Fire and Rescue.

The fire department said that two firefighters and two civilians were injured. Structural engineers have been dispatched to assess the building's integrity.

Lt. Rich Chatman, a spokesman for Portland Fire and Rescue, told The Associated Press that there were no fatalities and that the extent of the injuries was not presently clear. An earlier tweet from the fire department said three firefighters were injured.

According to the AP, the local utility company got a call that construction workers had inadvertently hit a gas line. Officials from the company and Portland Fire and Rescue decided to evacuate the building before the blast.

Chatman told the AP that members of his department were still gathering information about the cause.

This is breaking news story. Please check back for updates.