Minneapolis school explosion: Two dead and nine injured after gas leak at private Christian school

The blast destroyed part of the school

Two people are dead after a reported gas explosion ripped through a Christian private school in Minneapolis.

Nine others were injured in the blast, which leveled a portion of the upper school of Minnehaha Academy this week. Neither of the casualties were students of academy, which was hosting summer courses on a variety of subjects before the school year was set to begin.

School receptionist Ruth Berg and staff member John Carlson were killed in the explosion, which occurred around the school’s gymnasium.

“Please keep John’s family, Ruth’s family, those who were injured, and our school community in your prayers,” the school wrote in a Facebook post.

Mr Carlson graduated from the school in 1953 before working at the school, and was reportedly its “biggest cheerleader.” The 82-year-old was a custodian there.

Ms Berg was a 47-year-old receptionist who was engaged to be married, and had worked at the academy for 17 years. Friends and family posted devastating messages on her Facebook page after her death was announced publicly.

“I’m just devastated,” Mark Burrington, Ms Berg’s fiance, told local media. Mr Burrington lived with Ms Berg near the school and had felt the blast from their home. He raced over to the scene afterward, but saw that the part of the school she worked in had been destroyed.

“I don’t know what to think or feel. I’m just lost,” he said.

Local officials said that the blast may have been caused after a gas line was ruptured by contractors working at the school, according to local media reports.

The state fire marshal and local fire officials haven’t come to a final conclusion as to the cause of the explosion, however, and were sifting through the rubble following the blast to try and determine what exactly had caused the incident.