Cleanup has begun in Canmore, Alta. a day after a house explosion sent three people to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The explosion also injured 40 others and left hundreds without gas. It happened on Friday at about 5:00 p.m. after residents noticed a smell of gas near the downtown area of the mountain town, located west of Calgary.

Debris littered the streets and rooftops of the neighbourhood; the explosion had damaged up to 15 houses.

One resident was in tears over the blast that demolished her neighbour’s home, but the RCMP confirmed that no one was inside at the time.

Other residents told CTV Calgary they felt a blast similar to an earthquake or avalanche.

"(There was) a big blast and I was wondering what the hell was going on," a neighbour said. "I looked over there and the shingles were in the air."

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the area, including senior citizens from the Bow River Senior Citizens Lodge, where construction was underway at the time of the explosion.

Canmore explosion

"Ther''s construction happening at the seniors' lodge in the town and the home was located right next to the lodge and the construction," said Town of Canmore representative Sally Caudill. "The neighbourhood is being evacuated for safety and we're trying to check in and make sure that everyone is OK."

Emergency crews cut off gas lines to the area, leaving 430 residents and businesses without gas, and some without a place to stay.