Multiple people are still unaccounted for after explosion destroyed four-story apartment block

Multiple people remained unaccounted for Thursday afternoon, hours after a four-story apartment complex collapsed outside of Washington D.C.

Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, announced in a news conference on Thursday afternoon that ‘several’ residents were unaccounted for after fire officials conducted a second sweep of the Friendly Garden Apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland.

He would not specify how many people remained unaccounted for, saying the number is ‘still in flux,’ but said: ‘Our goal is to remain here until everyone is accounted for.’ 

Fire officials are now planning to bring in heavy machinery to tear ‘large parts of the building down,’ so they can ‘safely’ continue their search. 

Officials had previously said at least 12 to 18 of the apartments completely collapsed in the explosion at around 10.30am, and the building was deemed ‘unsafe to occupy.’ 

Authorities believe about 70 people live in the building, mostly senior citizens, FOX Baltimore reports, with Goldstein saying they believe a total of 100 people were displaced from the apartment building as well as the ones adjacent to it.   

At least 10 people were injured in the explosion, Goldstein said, three of whom had ‘serious injuries.’ 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Goldstein said there were no prior calls about gasoline issues.

Black smoke could be seen billowing throughout the sky following the collapse of an apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland Thursday morning

Firefighters worked the scene using a K9 search to determine whether anyone was left under the rubble

More than 120 firefighters remained on the scene Thursday afternoon to get the situation under control

Officials say at least 12 to 18 of the apartments completely collapsed in the explosion at around 10.30am, and the building was deemed ‘unsafe to occupy’

The fire was first reported at the Silver Spring, Maryland apartment complex at around 10.30am, after an explosion soon tore through one of the buildings, with video posted online showing a fireball and cloud of smoke pushing through the outer wall of the structure. 

Parts of the building could be seen collapsing before screams were heard, and a cloud of gray debris enveloped the area.

Firefighters on the scene encountered heavy fire when they arrived, Pete Piringer, the chief spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service, told CNN and they were able to make several rescues immediately.

More than 120 firefighters remained on the scene into Thursday afternoon conducting a secondary search of all of the adjacent buildings to ensure nobody was trapped. 

They were able to get most of the fire under control by 2pm, and were continuing to work on extinguishing hotspots, according to FOX 5 DC. 

Residents who were at the complex Thursday morning told FOX 5 described what felt like an earthquake just as the blast and fire erupted.

Black smoke billowed for miles following the collapse, as buses arrived to provide shelter to the displaced residents.

County officials were working on providing the victims with permanent housing, and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich called the situation ‘flat out depressing’ at a news conference earlier in the afternoon.  

Another press briefing is scheduled for 9am on Friday, and anyone who would like to help those affected by the fire can donate to MHPartners.org/families-affected-by-LyttonsvilleRoad-fire.