CW Gas Explosion March 24, 1972

On the morning of 24 March 1972 a series of three gas explosions, caused by a damaged natural gas pipe, ripped through our neighborhood and destroyed 2 homes on Magdalene Court, and severely damaged a third home. Tragically, two children died that day, followed by the death of their mother a week later from injuries sustained in the blasts. The fatalities include, Mrs. Raja Sarsour (30 years old), her daughter Sana (3 1/2 years old), and her son Samir (17 months old). Two other family members who were not in the home at the time of the blast survived.

Colonel Norman Levy of 8524 QEB had just sent his daughter to school and was in his kitchen when two jolts occurred according to an article in the Northern Virginia Sun.

Robert P. and Nancy Cesca were living at 4911 Magdalene Court and their residence was one of the two homes that were leveled (The Sarsour home and the Cesca home). Ismail M. Sarsour and the Cesca family filed multi-million dollar lawsuits against Washington Gas and Hopke Construction. Other Canterbury resident lawsuits were filed by Norman and Sandra Levy and Robert and Jacqueline Armstrong.

Hugh P. Knights was the backhoe operator for William B. Hopke Co, Inc. that ruptured a gas line while replacing storm sewers across the street. The backhoe ruptured the gas line shortly before 7am. Mrs. Sarsour called the gas company to report the strong smell of gas around 8:36am, and the explosions occurred around 8:55am. The construction crew stopped their work after rupturing the pipe and awaited their foreman’s arrival, but did not warn residents.

• Investigation Report – https://cwcivic.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Investigation-Report.pdf