A gas explosion destroyed an apartment building in Dallas on Thursday afternoon, prompting a massive emergency response as firefighters searched through debris for survivors. At least four people were hospitalized following the blast, while authorities said 11 others remain unaccounted for.

Nearly 100 firefighters responded to the scene in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood, where the two-story apartment complex was reduced to rubble and debris. The explosion ignited a large fire that sent black smoke billowing into the sky as emergency crews worked to contain the blaze.

News footage from the scene showed firefighters using hoses to spray water on piles of smoking debris while others moved lumber and burned wreckage, appearing to search for people who may have been trapped underneath. Some firefighters operated from elevated positions on long ladders, while others sprayed water from windows of neighboring buildings.

City officials confirmed there have been fatalities in the incident, though the Dallas Fire Department said it could not immediately confirm the exact number of victims. The cause of the gas explosion has not been determined, and the search and rescue operation was continuing as of Thursday evening.

The incident marks a significant emergency response for the Dallas area, with the large deployment of firefighters working to both extinguish the fire and locate any additional victims who may be trapped in the collapsed structure.