2013 Marks Village gas explosion

The 2013 Marks Village gas explosion was a major accident caused by deteriorated natural gas piping which caused eight serious injuries and significant structure damage to units 79 and 80 at the Marks Village housing project in Gate City at 2:29 AM on December 17, 2013.

The explosion occurred inside unit 80, which occupied half of a 2-story duplex on the southwest corner of Joppa Court and 65th Courtway South (map). It was caused when either the furnace or a pilot light inside the unit ignited a build-up of natural gas that entered from below the floor slab. Unit 80 was almost completely destroyed in the explosion and the adjoining unit 79 was heavily damaged. Tyrennis LaVal Mabry, who resided in the unit, was killed in the explosion. Her fiancé, Darryle Brown, was critically injured.