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PSE&G Workers Rushed To Hospital Following Explosion In N.J. Home Basement

MANVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Two people were injured in a gas explosion at a house in Manville.

PSE&G workers were out in the Lost Valley section, working to restore power when a homeowner called the power company to report that his hot water heater was "sizzling."

A crew headed downstairs at 112 Huff Avenue when the heater exploded in the basement.

LISTEN: 1010 WINS' Terry Sheridan reports 

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Hot Water Heater Explosion in Manville, NJ
Hot water heater explosion in Manville, NJ (credit: Terry Sheridan/1010 WINS)

"It was a loud bang. I got scared. I thought something in our house - I literally thought something in our house exploded. I ran out of the room and I was like 'What the heck was that sound I heard'?" one neighbor told CBS 2's Dave Carlin.

Ken Otrimski, Director of Emergency Management in Manville, confirmed that two people were injured in the blast, according to WCBS 880.

Manville mayor Lillian Zuza said she was told by Township Police that the injured were PSE&G workers. Medevac helicopters responded to the scene and airlifted the two to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital.

Zuza was unsure of the condition of the homeowner, who was also on the scene at the time of the explosion.

Manville was one of the Somerset County towns hardest hit by Hurricane Irene on Sunday.

PSE&G haven't released the condition of any of the injured men Saturday. They're still investigating the cause.

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