Absolutely. Gas hookups for any appliance should be checked periodically, particularly if, as with many water heaters, they sit in basements and other environments where the metal lines might get corroded more easily.
But this comment makes me wonder if something else isn't at play. (from the article linked in the OP)
Residents of the neighborhood are seeking answers about the deadly blast.
“This isn’t the first time that this has happened in Plum,” neighbor Justin Newman told the outlet.
Which makes me wonder if the connections used in the development were from the same source and defective or simply not durable, if there was some problem linked to installation, or if there is an environmental factor involved.
From:
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/saturdays-home-explosion-in-plum-the-third-to-happen-in-the-borough-in-15-years/ Saturday's home explosion in Plum the third to happen in the borough in 15 yearsNo mention of coal mining in the area, where mining and mineral processing seems to have been focused primarily on metals.
