Authorities report 6 people rescued alive from Missouri home destroyed by explosion

Six people were rescued from the rubble of a Missouri home after an unexplained explosion caused the residence to collapse. All six were taken to University Hospital in Columbia with moderate to severe injuries, some requiring life-saving attention. The victims were treated for smoke inhalation, with three reported to be in critical condition. The rescue operation was challenging due to extensive structural collapse and significant debris. The Jefferson City Fire Department’s Special Operations Rescue Team tunnelled through multiple layers of debris to pull victims out. Two pets were also rescued from the rubble and turned over to animal control authorities. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Jefferson City, the state capital, is located about 133 miles west of St. Louis. The victims’ genders and ages were not provided, and an update on their condition was not immediately available. The agency was grateful for the equipment and personnel on hand, which helped in the successful rescue operation. The house was depicted as twisted and mangled in the daylight, with parts of it nearly flattened on the snow-covered ground. It took over three hours to rescue all six individuals from the collapsed home.

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