First relief checks sent to gas blast survivors

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - March 17, 2011 (WPVI) -- Checks from between $500 to $5,000 are being sent to 16 of the 35 families affected by the deadly gas blast explosion last month.

The Morning Call of Allentown reports Thursday that the checks are being disbursed from a $110,000 charitable relief fund overseen by the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valey.

The first round of checks totaled $31,000. More will be issued to the remaining families in coming days.

The explosion and fire rocked an Allentown neighborhood and killed five people, including an elderly couple and a 4-month-old boy.

Investigators suspect a cracked piece of pipe is to blame for the explosion and fire that burned for hours as utility crews worked to cut off the gas supply in an area where the underground main lacked shut-off valves.

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Information from: The Morning Call, http://www.mcall.com

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allentown, pennsylvania, gas leak, explosion, local/state

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