Shocking video captures screaming, smoke, chaos after Dunwoody apartment explosion

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Harrowing video captured blood-curdling screams and total chaos in the moments after a Dunwoody apartment building exploded and collapsed on Sunday.

Four people were injured in the blast, which tore the front half of one building off and damaged several surrounding buildings.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington was the first to get her hands on the video, and spoke to the man who shot it on Monday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Ahmed Jerush said that the scene at the Arrive Perimeter apartments looked like something out of a movie.

“It was like an earthquake or the end of the world to me,” Jerush said.

The video captures the smoke, the confusion and the panic of residents. Jerush said they could still smell gas and they didn’t know what else could happen.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Georgia has lost more than 2 dozen teachers, staff since start of school year to COVID-19
• Hostage rescued, suspect killed during SWAT standoff at Cobb County apartments
• What to do with an old mall? Gwinnett County asks the community for ideas

“All I could smell was gas, like really, really strong,” resident David Sims said. “Not like when you leave the stove on. Like you couldn’t breathe.

On Monday afternoon, residents were still arriving to pick up whatever survived the blast. Sims was there to pick up some of his belongings.

DeKalb County officials are still investigating the exact cause of the blast. They have not released the identities or the conditions of the people who were hurt.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Octavious Sams lives nearby and said there was no damage to his building, but he is still concerned about his safety.

“If they ignoring those signs with people saying that they smelled gas in the buildings, then that’s a huge issue that they need to deal with,” Sams said.

Sams said he would only feel safe living at the complex if managers promise to do monthly gas checkups.

Washington tried to speak with management, but got no response.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan talked to Regina Mays, who was in her apartment at the rear of the building when it was rocked by the massive explosion.

“It just felt like something had hit the building,” Mays said. “Just the fear and the shock of everything that was going on, it was very chaotic.”

Another woman told Regan that the blast hurled her into the air outside and into the forest. She had minor injuries to her foot.

One man suffered serious burns and was taken to the hospital.

Residents were back at the apartments Monday collecting their belongings, but Mays said she’s going to have to find a new place to live.

Several people injured in massive Dunwoody apartment complex explosion

©2021 Cox Media Group