By RAY HENRY
Associated Press Writer

SOMERSET, Mass. (AP) -- Authorities say one woman was killed in an explosion that leveled a house and damaged nearby homes in Somerset.

William Meehan, chairman of the town's board of selectmen, said Thursday evening investigators believe the middle-aged woman, whose name was not immediately released, was alone except for a dog that also was killed. He said investigators are still examining the rubble.

"It is total destruction over there," Meehan said at a news conference, with debris strewn in the street and at least two other homes damaged.

"It looked like a twister had gone through there," he said.

Meehan said a natural gas leak is suspected as a cause of the 6:30 p.m. blast on New York Avenue. He said one firefighter suffered a minor injury.

Residents have been evacuated from nearby homes to a temporary shelter at an elementary school.

Helen Sullivan, who lives on nearby Connecticut Avenue about 100 yards from the explosion site, told The Boston Globe there was "an overwhelming smell of gas" on New York Avenue earlier in the day. She said she saw a firetruck on the street.

Sullivan said the explosion was like "a very loud sonic boom," after which she and other neighbors ran outside. Another neighbor told WCVB-TV the blast sounded like a plane crash.

Fire Marshall Steven Coan said his office is investigating the explosion.

A house explosion in Scituate on Dec. 17 killed 45-year-old David Kupris and heavily damaged several nearby homes. A Gloucester police officer was injured when his home exploded on Jan. 25. Natural gas leaks were reported in both incidents.

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