ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. - Lawrence County authorities are looking for the cause of what they describe as a “catastrophic” explosion at a shopping and office complex in Ellwood City.

The blast destroyed part of the former Walnut Ridge Elementary School building at 600 Mount Vernon Drive overnight.

First responders arrived shortly after midnight to find no fire, but a pile of rubble sitting where part of the building once stood. Seven fire departments responded to the initial call, but most cleared once it was determined no one was in immediate danger and the gas had been turned off.

"When we first arrived on scene, there was still a lot of debris floating in the air and dust. Other than that, it was just chaos. There were people out from their houses walking around. ... Luckily, they were jus

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