Jailhouse Gas Explosion Kills 2, Injures 100

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A county spokeswoman says two people were killed in a gas explosion at the jail in Pensacola, Florida, and more than 100 others were injured.

Kathleen Castro, the county's public information manager, says the explosion happened around 11 p.m. CDT Wednesday in a booking facility at the Escambia County jail. The blast also injured 100 to 150 inmates and corrections officers and caused the building to partially collapse.

She says about 600 inmates were in the building at the time.

Castro said she didn't know if flooding in the area was a factor but says the jail did get extensive flooding during heavy rains that drenched the region Tuesday and Wednesday.