3 people dead, 39 homes damaged after house explosion in Indiana - CNN

"The buildings are not yet safe to enter."

The initial survey shows that 39 houses have suffered "severe to minor damage," the chief added.

The chief later told reporters that 11 of those 39 homes were left inhabitable, adding that the American Red Cross will be helping those affected families.

Evansville is about 3 hours southwest of Indianapolis.

In a post on Twitter, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke shared photos from the scene showing destroyed and damaged homes and piles of debris and said first responders and local departments will "keep residents in the Willemette Village/Wesselman Park neighborhoods safe and informed."

The mayor told CNN affiliate WFIE that the scene was "devastating" and that it will likely take a while to figure out what happened.

"I'd seen photos that have been placed online, but once I walked up to the residence itself and saw the devastation with my own eyes, it was, I mean, it was a gut punch," Winnecke said.

"Across the street from the explosion you'll see house after house that has windows blown out, that has you know there's insulation blown out from homes," the mayor added.

A structural collapse team was called in to survey buildings and to make sure that all gas and electric circuits "had integrity," the chief said.

At least eight agencies were on the scene, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the State Fire Marshal.