Md. Olive Garden rocked by explosion (Photos)

An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
(Courtesy Laurel PIO)
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An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)
An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris. Two employees suffered minor injuries. About 70 customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the blast. (Courtesy Laurel PIO)

WASHINGTON — An explosion at a Laurel, Maryland, Olive Garden blew out the back wall of the restaurant and scattered debris across the parking lot and a nearby street around 1 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

There were no major injuries from the blast, said Mark Brady, Prince George’s County Fire Department spokesman.

About 15 employees and 70 customers were inside the restaurant at 14650 Baltimore Ave. when the explosion occurred. Audrey Barnes, the city of Laurel’s public information officer, said via Twitter two employees suffered minor injuries and were being treated at Laurel Regional Hospital.

The explosion caused “significant damage” to the restaurant, Brady said. In addition to strewing debris across the rear parking, the blast blew out some walls and damaged the restaurant’s ceiling, Brady said.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blast, Brady said. It’s believed the explosion began in the restaurant’s electrical utility room, he said.

Jack Moore

Jack Moore joined WTOP.com as a digital writer/editor in July 2016. Previous to his current role, he covered federal government management and technology as the news editor at Nextgov.com, part of Government Executive Media Group.

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