A 4-year-old child and a 55-year-old woman died following a house fire and explosion in Flint, Michigan, on Monday night, authorities said.
Emergency responders were called to the scene around 9:30 p.m. Monday after reports of people possibly being trapped in a home.
Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said everyone was accounted for as of Tuesday afternoon, and Fire Chief Raymond Barton said two people remained in hospital, including the 4-year-old girl’s father.
The girl was initially reported missing, but crews found her body in the rubble of her home, authorities said at a news conference on Tuesday.
“This is a tragic time for our community,” said Neeley.
The mayor said the cause of the explosion had yet to be determined, which left 30 homes in the area with structural damage, displaced people and cars on fire.
Aisha Lott, who lives nearby, said she felt an explosion and the explosion shook her house.
“It was like a huge bang, and my house shook,” she said. There are reports that the explosion was miles away.
Public works superintendent Mike Brown said at a news conference Tuesday, utilities at 27 homes in the area were closed..
Consumers Energy Spokesperson Brian Wheeler
said Tuesday morning that the utility found no evidence of gas leaks or other problems with the Consumers Energy gas system running to the home that exploded. He said the company is working with local authorities to investigate the explosion.
The investigation is underway.
Contributing: Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY; Related press.
