HARVEY, Ill. -- Fire, police and gas company crews responded to a house explosion in south suburban Harvey Friday morning.

Images: Sky5 Over Scene Send Us Your Pictures, Video

A house near the intersection of East 158th Street and Vine Avenue in Harvey was demolished in the explosion.

"It was a two-flat," said next-door neighbor Tyrone Mack. "Now, it's just flat."

"I woke up to a big boom -- the windows shattered," said Oshawnessy Mack.

Initial reports indicated that the house was vacant, the occupants having moved out about a month ago.

Harvey police officials said the owner of the house had moved to a nursing home recently, NBC5's Sharon Wright reported, and workers had been inside the home. Investigators were at the scene trying to determine what caused the explosion.

"Their first suspicion was that it was a gas explosion," said city spokeswoman Sandra Alvarado. "Just based on the way the damage, and the roof came down."

A 7-year-old neighbor on his way to school was slightly injured by falling debris, and several nearby homes were damaged, with parked cars also suffering broken windows and body damage.

Wright reported that the 7-year-old, identified as Wayne Ming, had just stepped out of his front gate when debris hit him.

"There was debris right on top of him right on the ground," said Ming's mother, Marcia Harris. "He had his school bag on his back, so that's what I think took off all the impact off him."

The backpack may have saved her son's life, Harris said.

"I was so scared," Harris said.

Ming was recovering at Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Wright reported. Neighbors said no one was seriously injured.

A house next door sustained damage and its residents will not be able to return until the investigation into the explosion is completed, Harvey spokeswoman Sandra Alvarado said.

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago was assisting those people, she added.

Nicor Gas was called to the scene of a house explosion at 40 E. 158th St. at 8:10 a.m. to assist police and fire crews, company spokesman Richard Caragol said.

When Nicor authorities arrived on the scene at 8:27 a.m., the gas was already turned off to the vacant home. It is unclear whether police and fire crews turned off the gas or gas service to the home had previously been suspended, Caragol said.

Police taped off most of the block, where wood debris and aluminum siding were scattered across the street.

The only remnant of the exploded home still standing was a stairwell with metal railings that used to lead to the entrance of the home.

Crews were at the scene investigating on Friday, Caragol said.

Additional information provided by Sun-Times News Group