MN - 1 dead, 1 missing after Minneapolis school explosion

Authorities say a fatal natural gas explosion Wednesday sparked a fire and partially collapsed a building at the Minnehaha Academy. The private Christian school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The school says longtime receptionist Ruth Berg died in the blast, and that janitor John Carlson remained unaccounted for Wednesday evening.
<snip> http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article164961202.html#storylink=cpy


Crews knocked down the remaining walls of Minnehaha Academy&#8217;s Upper School in order to get heavy equipment in to aid first responders in the search for a custodian.

Officials say John Carlson, 81, is still missing. An article from last spring in the school&#8217;s student-run online newspaper says Carlson graduated from the school, as did his children. He has worked at the school for more than 13 years. The article also says Carlson often handed out ice cream bars to students.
<snip> http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/08/02/minnehaha-academy-building-collapse/

The blast occurred in a utility area at the Minnehaha Academy as students were playing soccer and basketball at the private Christian school, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, according to fire and school officials.
[...]
Four people remained hospitalized late Wednesday, including one in critical condition, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, according to the hospital. Their names haven&#8217;t been released.

Dr. Jim Miner, the hospital&#8217;s chief of emergency medicine, said victims treated from the blast suffered injuries ranging from head injuries and broken bones to cuts from debris.
<snip> https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...33c52b2f014_story.html?utm_term=.0ac1965993e1

Video here shows before and after pics to give an idea of extent of damage:

https://news.google.com/news/video/2i6xiWS75OM/d5WbG2gQN40HEcM_Rm9QnV2s06G4M?hl=en&ned=us


Says 7 were injured; 3 critical (initially?).


ETA: An article is now saying a 2nd body was found.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...33c52b2f014_story.html?utm_term=.de57fac45e4c

Work on the gas lines was being done. From the link above:

The Star Tribune reported that city records show Master Mechanical Inc. was issued a permit on June 7 for &#8220;gas piping and hooking up meter&#8221; at the school&#8217;s address.
[...]
Master Mechanical has twice been cited for workplace violations in recent years, according to the newspaper.

What an awful thing to happen. Wonder how old the building is? Sounds as if they were doing upgrades on it by MM if they were issued a permit to work on it. If there was a gas leak that probably sparked off the explosion as gas leaks can do.
R.I.P. to the victims, :rose:

...Three people were rescued from the school’s roof, the Associated Press reported.

After firefighters doused the flames, they began to scour the rubble for missing school employees. By the afternoon, the body of Ruth Berg, a 47-year-old receptionist who was engaged to be married, was pulled from the debris. As night fell, fire officials said they found the body of the other missing person: John Carlson, a beloved janitor in his early 80s known for handing out ice cream bars to students.

The blast also left nine others injured, including one who remains hospitalized in critical condition. Three others remained in the hospital Wednesday night in “satisfactory condition,” according to Hennepin County Medical Center. Five others were treated and later released.


Ruth Berg, 47


John Carlson, 81

<snipped>
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...at-minneapolis-school/?utm_term=.b3ab679afc3a

As NTSB investigates, Minnehaha Academy officials work to determine next steps
Fire officials are looking at whether workers turned off gas inside the building, rather than the street.

A full-time custodian, Bryan Duffey, was in the same area and severely injured. Duffey, who has been with the school for a year and also is an assistant boys soccer coach for Minnehaha, is being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center. Two others remain at HCMC and were in satisfactory condition Thursday.

In a statement from the family released Thursday afternoon through HCMC, Duffey is described as being in critical but stable condition with &#8220;traumatic injuries that will require more surgery.&#8221;
[...]
&#8220;This is not the type of thing that happens in the absence of negligence: somebody screwed up big time,&#8221; Pritzker said. &#8220;The financial exposure is likely to be shared by more than one entity.&#8221;


Bryan Duffey

<snipped>
http://www.startribune.com/ntsb-inv...nnehaha-academy-school-minneapolis/438312103/

I missed this story til now. How sad My heart goes out to all involved and the families. So tragic the loss of life and so dang scary for those who survived. This hits me hard not because I know anyone there but my mother was the long time receptionist at a private Christian school which served grades K - 8th. I know what a close knit setting that is.

:cry:

oh no ... that poor elderly janitor ... so sad

Tragic. It could of been worse.

HMSHood said:

Tragic. It could of been worse.

Click to expand...

True. I hate that two lovely people lost their lives, but thankfully no children were injured.