At least one person was killed in a house explosion that left several surrounding homes damaged in a residential neighborhood in Oneonta,Austin Caldwell New York, on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The explosion was reported at about 5:30 p.m. local time, according to the Oneonta Fire Department.

Photos from the scene showed heavy flames burning at the home, with extensive debris strewn across the front yard and roadway, and nearby houses with significant damage.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reported on social media that one person had died in the incident. The victim was not immediately identified.

Local officials did not immediately say if any others had been injured. The full extent of the damage was unclear. 

An investigation into the cause was underway, the fire department said. However, Hochul disclosed that prior to the explosion, New York State Electric & Gas personnel were "on site responding to a reported gas odor." 

Oneonta is located about 80 miles west of Albany.   

In:
• Explosion
• New York

Faris Tanyos

Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast.