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At least one woman injured after electrical vault explosion in Koreatown

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At least one woman was injured after explosions at two electrical vaults in Koreatown on Friday morning, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was called to the scene in the 600 block of South Shatto Place around 8:30 a.m. The incident initially was reported as a natural gas leak, the fire department said, and the second electrical vault explosion occurred shortly after firefighters arrived.

Firefighters cordoned off the area as they waited for the Department of Water and Power to arrive to assess the damage.

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Authorities checked two women for injuries. One declined to be taken to a hospital, and the other had minor injuries and was transported in fair condition, the fire department said. It was not immediately clear whether the first woman was injured.

The explosion occurred near the Wilshire/Vermont Metro station, but no smoke or fire was reported, LAFD said. The Red and Purple Line stop is fully operational.

Fire officials said natural gas is still noticeable in the area, and the LAFD, the Southern California Gas Company and DWP are “working together to identify and mitigate any safety hazards.”

Firefighters were providing fire suppression support to DWP for the vault. Authorities have closed 6th Street from South Westmoreland Avenue to Vermont Avenue, and Shatto Place from 5th Street to Wilshire Boulevard.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

For more California news follow me on Twitter: @sarahparvini

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UPDATES:

11:20 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the explosion.

This article was originally published at 9:55 a.m.

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