<br /> <p>A gas explosion rocked Canton, Illinois, on the evening of Wednesday, November 16, causing heavy damage in the downtown area.</p><p>This footage shows the extent of the damage. The uploader, Krysten Marie Stremmel, told the Journal Star</a> that the explosion sounded “like a firework going off right in front of our house” and destroyed the Opera House as well as several other structures.</p><br /><p>“We walked through the strip of a mall that is left, between the Penny’s, the H&R Block and the Taco Bell,” she said. “All those windows were completely shattered.”</p><br /><p>At least one man was killed and six others were injured in the blast, according to Central Illinois Proud</a>. As of 8:30 pm, the Canton Police Department</a> said emergency services had cordoned off the blast site and urged residents to stay out of the area. Credit: Facebook/Krysten Marie Stremmel via Storyful</p><br />
