Businesses still damaged months after gas explosion

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's been more than two months since the devastating natural gas explosion in Springfield's Entertainment district and many businesses are still boarded up.
 
The blast damaged 42 buildings and destroyed at least three buildings; injuring more than 20 people, most of them first responders.

The sound of the gas explosion that devastated parts of Springfield's Entertainment district could be heard as far away as East Longmeadow.

One business owner told 22News he hasn't gotten any money yet from the gas company blamed for the explosion.

William Miller, owner of the People’s Pawn, told 22News, “People are scared they say to come down here. I have a store up in Forest Park, and people like to go to that store more than here because they say they're all scared , ‘I don't want to go downtown because of the explosion,' worried that it might happen again.”

“Everything is still boarded up and it looks like a ghost town and I usually drive by and make sure Billy is open,” said Dennis Deveaux of Springfield.