House construction in the US varies by region. Indy probably has midwestern structure, which means it has a concrete poured, in-ground basement foundation. then a wooden frame with insulation and drywall. the outside has a styrofoam layer, and then plastic covering. this is then either covered/decorated by brick (expensive), wood (heavy maintenence), or plastic (cheap and easy to maintain).

It's likely gas heated, as it's cheaper than electrical heating. Especially in a suburban neighborhood like that.

Honestly that looks more like a bomb hit it than a gas leak o.O (but it's not, no crater and the explosion clearly happened above ground).

farvacola

United States18825 Posts

November 16 2012 00:20 GMT

#82

On November 16 2012 09:17 BluePanther wrote:
House construction in the US varies by region. Indy probably has midwestern structure, which means it has a concrete poured, in-ground basement foundation. then a wooden frame with insulation and drywall. the outside has a styrofoam layer, and then plastic covering. this is then either covered/decorated by brick (expensive), wood (heavy maintenence), or plastic (cheap and easy to maintain).

Yep, I grew up in Ohio in a house very much like this, with nice plastic siding! It was a nice house and had very few problems, save for a pesky leak in the basement that would pop up every so often. Also happy birthday BP!

Tiegrr

United States607 Posts

November 16 2012 00:21 GMT

#83

There is almost nothing left of the middle of the three worst houses..

Rassy

Netherlands2308 Posts

November 16 2012 00:23 GMT

#84

Wow thats bad, feel sry for the victems.
Still:4 houses gone and 2 damaged by a gas explosion.
These things happen like every week in the western world.
Pics are of verry good quality btw, props for that!.

"If it was a gas leak, it must have been leaking for days, and contained in the house...theres no way a small leak could cause that much damage"

They are all wooden houses, they not so solid.
Can easily imagine a small leak can cause that in like half a day.
There are gas explosions in the netherlands every year destroying a few stone build houses without problem, it is verry powerfull if got the right air gas mixture.

"In serious debt with two mortgages and a dismissed bankruptcy hanging over them."
Continues
" The ex-wife away at a Casino"

O wow i didnt even see that yet, this definatly gives reason for at least some doubts about a natural cause.
Wont be the first time people blew up their own house.

Bourneq

Sweden800 Posts

November 16 2012 00:27 GMT

#85

"In serious debt with two mortgages and a dismissed bankruptcy hanging over them."
Continues
" The ex-wife away at a Casino"
Anyway RIP

BluePanther

United States2776 Posts

November 16 2012 00:27 GMT

#86

On November 16 2012 09:23 Rassy wrote:
Wow thats bad, feel sry for the victems.
Still:4 houses gone and 2 damaged by a gas explosion.
These things happen like every week in the western world.

"If it was a gas leak, it must have been leaking for days, and contained in the house...theres no way a small leak could cause that much damage"

They are all wooden houses, they not so solid.
Can easily imagine a small leak can cause that in like half a day.
There are gas explosions in the netherlands every year destroying a few stonebuild houses without problem, it is verry powerfull if got the right air gas mixture

probably not, but it's a topic we haven't talked about recently :O

and my birthday is tomorrow, tf tl?

m4inbrain

1505 Posts

November 16 2012 00:39 GMT

#87

On November 16 2012 09:27 BluePanther wrote:

Show nested quote +

probably not, but it's a topic we haven't talked about recently :O

and my birthday is tomorrow, tf tl?

Guess you would have birthday over here in germany now (if i don't confuse the timezones, im tired) - so happy birthday from here, as you have birthday in germany (maybe im switching up the timezones upside down, but still

)

So yeah, if it most likely had a gas-heater and ovens and stuff, im convinced that this was the issue. Maybe suicide (happened in germany).

[image loading]

That's Lüttich in 2001, a gas explosion in an appartement house - just to show how powerfull such a thing can be. Keep in mind, that's concrete and bricks, even though most likely older than 50-75 years (judging by the looks of the house, it's called "Altbau", something like "old construction").

Soap

Brazil1546 Posts

November 16 2012 00:40 GMT

#88

Every single house here is made of brick on a reinforced concrete frame, how is it expensive in America?

Dontkillme

Korea (South)806 Posts

November 16 2012 00:41 GMT

#89

Saw this off of reddit. Eerie stuff 0_o

m4inbrain

1505 Posts

November 16 2012 00:41 GMT

#90

On November 16 2012 09:40 Soap wrote:
Every single house here is made of brick on a reinforced concrete frame, how is it expensive in America?

Well, its more expensive than wood i guess. Even though over here a concrete building could actually be cheaper than a wooden one, or at least +- the same price.

Immutant

Singapore201 Posts

November 16 2012 00:55 GMT

#91

I suspect banelings.

On a more serious note, it is surprising that the houses to the north and south (across the road) only suffered cosmetic damage, despite the lack of a barrier between them. So, I guess I rather be 50m (exposed) away from an explosion, than 25m away and behind a brick wall?

Equity213

Canada873 Posts

November 16 2012 01:05 GMT

#92

A similar thing happened in my town a few years ago: gas explosion in a house, blew the whole thing up. Turned out it was a murder suicide.

Emnjay808

United States10655 Posts

November 16 2012 01:06 GMT

#93

Holy shit, that looks unreal seriously.

fabiano

Brazil4644 Posts

November 16 2012 01:08 GMT

#94

holy shit thats what i call massive

Fyrewolf

United States1533 Posts

November 16 2012 01:13 GMT

#95

Apparently it was only 2 houses that were completely leveled in that blast area, not 3. Explosion must have been centered towards one side of the suspected house.

Reason

United Kingdom2770 Posts

November 16 2012 01:21 GMT

#96

Holy shitsnacks.

heliusx

United States2306 Posts

November 16 2012 01:26 GMT

#97

On November 16 2012 09:27 BluePanther wrote:

Show nested quote +

probably not, but it's a topic we haven't talked about recently :O

and my birthday is tomorrow, tf tl?

korean standard time

FlamingForce

Netherlands701 Posts

November 16 2012 01:30 GMT

#98

Ho. Ly. Shit.

That must've been one hell of a gas leak to cause something that size o.o

bobbob

United States368 Posts

November 16 2012 01:33 GMT

#99

One of the reasons that wood is used over brick is earthquakes, bricks are not exactly the most flexible material when dealing with earthquakes, nor would you rather have a brick wall hit you rather than a wood wall.

That being said, I don't really know of many earthquakes near Indianapolis, but maybe I am just unaware.

Macabre

United States1262 Posts

November 16 2012 01:46 GMT

#100

Methane leak ??