Two refugee families who escaped persecution in Southeast Asia were celebrating a religious holiday Tuesday when a blast leveled a home on Syracuse’s North Side, a city official said.
One of the families had been in the United States for 12 days, according to Common Councilor Chol Majok. Majok is a refugee, formerly of South Sudan.
The two families had gathered to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a major holiday for Muslims. “They were there to break bread,” Majok said.
The seven-person family renting the home at 205 Carbon St. had originally moved to the United States five years ago, Majok said. The visitors, a Syracuse family of six, had only been in the country for 12 days, he said.
Both families were originally from Myanmar, and part of the Rohingya ethnic minority group that has faced decades of persecution. The U.S. government has said the military in Myanmar is committing genocide and crimes of humanity against the group.
Three young children are fighting for their lives with injuries and burns from the blast that crumpled the two-story rental home.
Twelve people were hospitalized after the collapse, officials said. All were in stable condition, except for the three youngest victims, who were in “critically stable” condition: an 8-month-old, 2-year-old and 3-year-old, according to District Chief Matthew Craner, a fire department spokesperson. One child was treated but not admitted to a hospital, he said.
Majok said he went to the hospital Wednesday afternoon to visit the injured, who were spread across multiple floors. One person is on a ventilator, he said.
Investigators believe the explosion might have been related to natural gas service inside the home, Craner said. Firefighters found downed power lines and a heavy odor of natural gas when they arrived.
Pressure tests by National Grid found no issues with the gas line running from Carbon Street to the home’s meter, Craner said.
District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said his office was part of the investigation and that they were focused on appliances inside the home. The investigation is not criminal, said Craner, the fire department spokesperson.
Majok said he is working with local organizations to create a way for people to donate to the two families.
“We are asking the community to help … these families to re-establish themselves,” he said.
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