Six people were rescued from the rubble of a Missouri home after an unexplained explosion caused the residence to collapse. The individuals were taken to University Hospital in Columbia with moderate to severe injuries. Some were treated for smoke inhalation and two were airlifted due to the severity of their injuries. Emergency medical services chief Eric Hoy stated that three of the patients were in critical condition requiring extensive life support procedures. The patients’ genders and ages were not immediately available.
First responders were called to the scene early in the morning after reports of an explosion. The home was completely destroyed, with footage showing the twisted and mangled structure. Rescue operations were challenging due to the extensive collapse and debris. The Special Operations Rescue Team had to tunnel through multiple layers of debris to rescue the victims. It took more than three hours to pull out all six individuals, as well as two pets that were handed over to animal control.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The city of Jefferson, where the incident occurred, is the state capital of Missouri. Jefferson City Fire Department’s assistant chief, Jake Holee, expressed gratitude for having the right equipment and trained personnel to handle the rescue operation. Despite the challenges, all six individuals were successfully rescued from the collapsed home.
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