Two people have been killed and nine injured when a gas explosion ripped through a Christian private school in Minneapolis, starting a fire and causing a building to collapse.
The body of a school employee who had been missing for most of Wednesday after the blast at Minnehaha Academy was recovered that evening, Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel told a news conference.
Fruetel declined to identify either victim pending notification of next of kin.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that the remains removed earlier in the day belonged to Ruth Berg, a 47-year-old receptionist at the school who was engaged to be married.
Family members earlier told local news channel KARE that John Carlson, an 81-year-old custodian, was missing and that no one had been able to reach him.
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The nine people who were injured were taken to local hospitals, and one was in critical condition, Fruetel said.
Authorities say there are early indications that a ruptured gas line may have led to the explosion and that it was caused by contractors working at the school. The academy confirmed on Facebook that there had been a gas leak and explosion at its Upper School.
"This is a day of extraordinary heartbreak in Minneapolis," Mayor Betsy Hodges told the news conference.
