The workers were repairing a gas leak that occurred around 9:30 a.m., according to Steve Golden, director of external affairs and planning for The Gas Company. The explosion shortly before noon left one with third-degree burns and the other with first-degree burns, according to district EMS deputy chief Robert Pedro. Both were taken to Straub Hospital.

The fire sent flames shooting into the air, and police closed King Street between Pua and Peterson streets and evacuated Kaiulani Elementary School — which was not in session — and ordered occupants of Tamashiro Market and some other nearby buildings to stay inside.

King Street was opened for traffic at about 3:30 p.m.

At 12:45 p.m. Gas Company crews were trying to locate the valve or valves to shut down the gas line causing the problem, said Golden. He said workers were concentrating on two valves.

Sometimes there is more than one particular supply source that goes to a line like this," Golden explained. "They're trying to isolate it. But at this point that has not been done.

"Once they get that controlled, then they will go in and do the permanent repair, which we were in the process of doing when this incident occurred."