| Video shows the moment when an explosion goes off in Springfield, Mass., and authorities believe a natural gas leak is to blame. NBC's Brian Williams reports. By NBC News and wire reports Sixteen people were hurt when a natural gas leak triggered an explosion that completely leveled a strip club in Springfield, Mass., and destroyed or damaged several other buildings, officials said Friday. The blast blew out all windows in a three-block radius, leaving three more buildings damaged beyond repair and prompting emergency workers to evacuate a six-story apartment building that was buckling. People were knocked off their feet by the blast, NBC affiliate WWLP-TV reported. Two hospitals treated 16 people, though none were in critical condition, officials said. The blast was heard for miles and one of the buildings destroyed was a strip club that had just been evacuated due to a strong natural gas odor. A dancer at the club told The Springfield Republican that she was on stage dancing when the evacuation order came. While she was gathering her clothes, she said, the manager came up and told everyone, "I don't care if you're (expletive) naked or not, get out."  Don Treeger / Springfield Republican via AP Gas company workers stand where a building was leveled by an explosion in downtown Springfield, Mass., on Friday. "I feel lucky we got out," said the dancer, identified only as Debbie. She said all her work clothes were lost. At a restaurant two blocks away, waitress Stephanie Simmons said the blast shocked customers. "It rocked us so hard the windows smashed," she told The Springfield Republican. "It felt like an earthquake or a large explosion. There was pretty much chaos." Springfield is the largest city in western Massachusetts with a population of about 150,000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. More content from NBCNews.com:
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11/23/2012
Blast tied to natural gas leak rips Mass. city
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