LA Fire Department

‘Narcotics Operation Mishap' Caused Koreatown Apartment Explosion

A person was detained for questioning Wednesday following an explosion caused by a possible drug lab mishap in a Koreatown apartment complex that forced residents to evacuate for several hours, officials said.

Firefighters were called to the 300 block of Ardmore Avenue after reports of an explosion before 9 a.m., according to the LA Fire Department.

The Los Angeles Police Department said "windows were blown" and evacuated residents until the afternoon.

Aerial video showed firefighters walking through the apartment building's courtyard area.

Authorities at the scene said the explosion was caused by a "narcotics operation that had a mishap with some volatile materials."

Additional details were not immediately available.

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