A powerful explosion rocked Palm Springs on Saturday, May 17, heavily damaging a fertility clinic and shattering windows at multiple other businesses, with residents reporting feeling the force of the blast miles away.
There was no immediate confirmation of injuries, although There was no official word of injuries, Palm Springs police Lt. William Hutchinson told the Desert Sun at the scene there appeared to be at least one fatality.
An image posted online by a witness showed what appeared to be a body near the blast scene.
The explosion occurred around 11 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Indian Canyon Drive, either in or near an American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, which was extensively damaged. The clinic is near the Desert Regional Medical Center.
Some reports indicated the blast may have been a car explosion in a vehicle parked near the clinic. A heavily damaged vehicle was visible near the scene, but it remained unclear if it was the source of the blast or if it was just damaged by the explosion.
Hutchinson told the Desert Sun, “Everything is in question, whether this is an act of terrorism.”
Video posted online by witnesses showed debris scattered in the street in front of the clinic and windows shattered at multiple businesses in the area. Residents also reported online feeling the shaking from the blast throughout the city.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on their way to the scene to help assess what happened, according to spokesperson Nicole Lozano.
Nima Tabrizi, 37, of Santa Monica, said he was inside a cannabis dispensary nearby when he felt a massive explosion.
“The building just shook, and we go outside and there’s massive cloud smoke,” Tabrizi said. “Crazy explosion. It felt like a bomb went off. … We went up to the scene, and we saw human remains.”
The American Reproductive Centers facility is not believed to have been open at the time of the blast. According to the business’ website, the clinic is the Coachella Valley’s “first and only full-service fertility center and IVF (in vitro fertilization) lab.” Its services also include LGBTQ family building, egg donation and freezing, fertility evaluations and embryo transfer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.