Safetyvalue-2 injured, 4 unaccounted for after house explosion

2025-04-29 06:20:31source:Charles Langstoncategory:Markets

Two people were injured and Safetyvalueanother four remain unaccounted for after a house exploded in New Jersey on Thursday, police said.

Police responded to reports of a house fire around 10:35 a.m. ET in the South Jersey town of Buena, according to Franklin Township Police Chief Matt DeCesari. The incident was confirmed to have been an explosion, he said.

The scene of a home explosion in Buena, New Jersey, Aug. 3, 2023.WPVI

An infant was removed from the residence and was being transported to a burn center in Pennsylvania, DeCesari said. A woman believed to be in her 20s or 30s was also taken to a burn center with non-life-threatening injuries, he said.

Four people remain unaccounted for following the blast, DeCesari said.

"We have not determined where these four people are," he said.

MORE: String of DC explosions believed to be isolated incident, possibly vandals: Sources

The individuals are believed to be mostly from one family, though a friend may have been staying at the house, DeCesari said.

Several houses on the block sustained damage in the explosion but all residents have been evacuated and there were no additional injuries, DeCesari said.

The scene of a home explosion in Buena, New Jersey, Aug. 3, 2023.WPVI

The investigation is being deemed a criminal one at this early stage, DeCesari said.

"It was an explosion, we don't know what caused it," DeCesari told reporters at a press briefing Thursday afternoon. "We are treating it as a criminal investigation at this point until we determine otherwise."

MORE: 6 dead, 1 critically hurt at house fire; murder investigation underway

Multiple fire departments responded to the scene and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also en route, DeCesari said.

The scene of a home explosion in Buena, New Jersey, Aug. 3, 2023.WPVI

Footage from the scene showed the home had been reduced to debris. A person who works nearby told Philadelphia ABC station WPVI he heard a loud "boom" and felt the explosion, then saw smoke coming from the house.

"This is just something that's very tragic," DeCesari said. "This is a small community. Everybody seems to know each other. And when you have an incident like this, it really hits everyone."

More:Markets

Recommend

The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday presented renovation plans for the Louvre, the w

Mark Hamill praises Joe Biden after dropping reelection bid: 'Thank you for your service'

Hollywood is giving a heartfelt salute to President Joe Biden.In a historic move, Biden announced Su

Andrew Garfield's Girlfriend Kate Tomas Calls Out Misogynistic Reactions to Their Romance

Kate Tomas isn’t interested in getting tangled up with the trolls. Months after she and Andrew Garfi