An explosion has heavily damaged a church in upstate New York, leaving five people injured.
New York State Police confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
They said gas odour was reported inside the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in the town of Boonville, Oneida County.
The police disclosed that a firefighter was inside the church when the explosion occurred on Tuesday.
They noted that the firefighter and a civilian were critically injured.
The five injured people have been taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police are investigating the cause of the explosion.
As of Tuesday afternoon, police said there were no signs of any criminal activity involved in the explosion.
