Elizabeth resident Wayne Sheppard says he was jolted awake Wednesday morning when the house next door to his exploded. He says that his first thought was that of his 10-month-old son.

"It just so happens my wife had just taken our son out of his bedroom...because he was crying," Sheppard says. "His bedroom has a window that faces that house. His bedroom is destroyed. My son could not be here."

The explosion occurred at a two-family duplex on Magnolia Avenue at around 8 a.m. Wednesday. Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage believes the explosion was caused by a gas leak. Fire officials and representatives from Elizabethtown Gas are looking into what happened.

Fifteen people were injured, including two victims who are in critical condition. One of those critical patients is just 11 years old. A man in his 20s was killed.

Six of the victims were taken to Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth to be treated for their injuries. One of those patients, a 19-year-old woman, fell from the second floor of the home.

"The floor caved and gave away and she actually found herself between the building next door and the alleyway," says Dr. John D'Angelo.

That woman's brother was the person who died in the explosion. His name has not yet been released.

Right after the explosion, a small fire started inside the home. The fire quickly went out on its own. Mayor Bollwage says it could have been much worse.

"If there was a fire we would be looking at a much more serious situation and the 15 people that were rescued probably would have expired," Bollwage says.

About 30 people are now displaced from their homes. The American Red Cross is assisting.