Gas explosion leaves nearly 70,000 customers without natural gas

(TULSA, Okla.) Crews responded to a gas line explosion near 21st and Memorial around 3 p.m. Thursday. Nearby businesses and homes were evacuated. The entire area was closed to traffic as police and EMSA evacuated more than 100 senior citizens from assisted living facilities. Officials said the danger has since been contained, but about 67,000 customers were still without natural gas service Thursday night. Public Service Company of Oklahoma told VNN they shut down service for about 2,000 customers around 4 p.m. at the request of the Tulsa Fire Department while Oklahoma Natural Gas worked to return their services. After restoring power for more than 1000 customers, PSO said that they hoped to have all power returned to the remaining 940 customers by 10 p.m. Police said the area of East 21st Street and South Memorial Drive has reopened for east and west bound traffic around 8 p.m. South bound traffic is still barricaded and will remain so for several days while repairs begin. Officers said about fifty ONG employees are on the ground assessing the damage and more are driving to the area, and asked that the public be patient and allow them room.