Excelsior Springs, MO — A powerful explosion leveled a house near Gabe Travis Circle early Friday morning, leaving two residents dead and prompting an extensive investigation by local and state authorities.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed at 12:28 pm they have now located two bodies in the rubble of the home, believed to be the residents. The Medical Examiner is responding to the scene, the names of the deceased once their identities have been confirmed and next-of-kin notification is complete.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office received the first emergency call at 4:42 a.m. from a citizen reporting that a neighbor’s home had exploded. According to Clay County Sheriff’s Office Chief Information Officer Sarah Boyd, several other calls from the surrounding neighborhood followed soon after.
When deputies arrived on the scene, the house was completely leveled, Boyd said. A fire was still burning, and the explosion was powerful enough to blow open the doors of nearby houses, she added
The explosion was reportedly seen from Highway 92 in Kearney and felt across a wide area. Missouri search and rescue canines were brought in to assist in the search, and a manual search was also underway all morning. “The Excelsior Springs Fire Department and Police Department are providing assistance in this case.”
Authorities have also enlisted the help of the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Missouri Propane Safety Commission to determine the cause of the explosion. While foul play has not been ruled out, Boyd noted that there is currently no evidence to suggest it.
At a 9:00 am press briefing Boyd stated, “We did locate a deceased dog at the house, which we believe lived there,” Boyd said. “We don’t know if the residents were in the home at the time, but we’re hoping they were not.” Unfortunately, it now appears the couple was in the home.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to help law enforcement piece together the events leading up to the explosion.
*This story was edited on 8/23/24 at 12:30 pm to reflect updated information about the discovery of bodies that were found in the rubble.
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