Explosion Damages North Dakota Duplex

An explosion has leveled half of a duplex in south Fargo, S.D.

Assistant Fargo Fire Chief Dean Meyer says 13 people from a large family were injured. Some of the injured are adults and some are children. All were taken to Fargo hospitals. Two of the victims suffered serious burns and were airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital.

Meyer says firefighters had to use their hands to dig through the rubble to get to two of the victims who were trapped.

Building material, insulation, two-by-fours and pipes are strewn 50 feet in every direction.

Neighbors say it’s possible the house was hit by lighting.

An Xcel Energy crew is on the scene to shut off gas to the home.

Firefighters from Moorhead, Minnesota, are assisting. The American Red Cross also is on the scene.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Source: KFGO-AM.