URGENT - Missouri-Gas-Explosion-Utility

POSTED: 6:35 PM Feb 19 2013

(CNN) -- A utility sent a crew to investigate reports of the smell of gas in a commercial area of Kansas City about an hour before an explosion tore through a restaurant, CNN affiliate KCTV reported Tuesday. About 30 minutes before the explosion, gas crews asked residents of a nearby building to evacuate, it said. The utility owns and operates the natural gas distribution line servicing the area.