At least 2 dead, more than 150 injured by gas explosion at Florida jail

PENSACOLA, Florida — The explosion happened around 11 p.m. Wednesday at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility, said Kathleen Dough-Castro, the Public Information Officer for Escambia County.

Pensacola Police Officer Maria Landy told ABC News Radio that two people have died, but at this point there's no word on whether the victims are inmates or guards.

Injured inmates have been taken to area hospitals.

About 600 uninjured prisoners were evacuated by bus and transferred to other detention facilities in the area, Dough-Castro said. No inmates are known to have escaped.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.

Escambia County is located in the western part of the state.