An explosion has occurred in Hollywood, according to local media and various citizen reporters who have posted videos of the aftermath online.
The incident occurred just outside of Los Angeles near the intersections of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in the 1700 block across the street from the Hollywood and Highland Center.
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The Los Angeles Fire Department has since responded to the scene where it's alleged that the explosion occurred on the first floor of a six-story apartment building where a restaurant is located.
The restaurant sits beneath a six-story apartment building, and the first floor of the residential part of the building was evacuated “in abundance of safety,” LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart stated in the alert.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Explosion?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Explosion</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hollywood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hollywood</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Highland?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Highland</a> <a href="https://t.co/0jD5bguZUT">https://t.co/0jD5bguZUT</a></p>— Kevin W. (@kwilli1046) <a href="https://twitter.com/kwilli1046/status/943696348116848641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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It remains unclear at this time what the cause of the explosion was or if its related to terrorism or not, or even a potential gas leak
There are speculations it could have been a gas explosion that remains unconfirmed, but video of the scene shows what appears to be shattered windows and glass on the streets surrounding the building.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/explosion?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#explosion</a> on Hollywood and Highland smh wtf. Was eating at California Pizza Kitchen and the whole restaurant shook! Explosion was super loud! <a href="https://t.co/NwfBWNwOFI">pic.twitter.com/NwfBWNwOFI</a></p>— Sebastian (@ActionSebastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/ActionSebastian/status/943692979893501952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Nearby residents and commercial businesses could feel the shockwaves of the explosion suggesting it had immense power behind it.
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Explosion rocks <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hollywood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hollywood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC7JT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABC7JT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABC7</a> <a href="https://t.co/FRW8q5nzEt">pic.twitter.com/FRW8q5nzEt</a></p>— christina heller (@CHellerTVNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CHellerTVNews/status/943693208839581697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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There are also alleged reports of the strong odor of gas nearby.
This remains a breaking story and we will update with any new information as it comes in.
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