INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Demolition work has started on the first of about 30 houses ordered torn down in an Indianapolis neighborhood ravaged by an explosion that killed a young couple.

Crews using a large excavator began Tuesday morning tearing down one of the badly damaged houses in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the city’s far south side.

City building inspectors last week ordered the demolition of 29 houses by Dec. 20. Four other homes, including two that were leveled in the Nov. 10 explosion, are being maintained as police investigate what they believe was an intentional natural gas explosion.

The explosion also damaged dozens of other houses and total damage has been estimated at $4.4 million.