MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Latest on the partial school building collapse in Minneapolis that killed two people (all times local):
5 p.m.
The National Transportation Safety Board has started its investigation into a natural gas explosion that killed two people at a Minneapolis school.
NTSB board member Christopher Hart says investigators were at Minnehaha Academy on Thursday and could be in Minneapolis for up to seven days. The NTSB is investigating because it has jurisdiction over gas pipelines.
Hart says investigators are looking into whether the Wednesday explosion happened while a gas meter was being moved. Other questions include whether the gas was turned off inside the building or at the street.
He says it typically takes about a year for the NTSB to fully investigate incidents and issue safety recommendations.
Hart says investigators want to determine what happened but also why it happened, to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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4 p.m.
The family of an assistant soccer coach who was injured in an explosion at a Minneapolis school says he is in critical but stable condition.
The family of Bryan Duffey released a statement Thursday saying they’ve seen him make progress since he was injured in the explosion Wednesday at Minnehaha Academy. They said they’re thankful for the prayers and support they’ve received.
The family says Duffey has traumatic injuries that will require more surgery. They didn’t elaborate.
Longtime school receptionist Ruth Berg and custodian John Carlson were killed in the explosion, which partially collapsed a school building. Investigators believe it was a natural gas explosion.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. An update is expected late Thursday afternoon.
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9:40 a.m.
One man who was injured in an explosion and partial building collapse at a Minneapolis school remains in critical condition.
Minnehaha Academy says Bryan Duffey is a facilities team member at the private school that serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school says on its Facebook page that it is praying for Duffey’s healing.
Two other adults remained hospitalized Thursday in satisfactory condition. Six others who were brought to the hospital after Wednesday’s explosion have been released.
Longtime school receptionist Ruth Berg and custodian John Carlson were killed in the building collapse.
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9:15 a.m.
A Minneapolis school says one of its custodians was the second person killed in an explosion and partial building collapse.
Minnehaha Academy confirmed on its Facebook page that John Carlson had died in the blast, which also killed receptionist Ruth Berg.
The school said Carlson was “Minnehaha’s biggest cheerleader and a long-time presence in the school.” He attended the school himself, graduating in 1953, and sent his children there before returning to work as a janitor.
Fire Chief John Fruetel announced late Wednesday that a second body had been pulled from the rubble, but he did not say it was Carlson, who was reported missing.
Firefighters have said their recovery efforts are done. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the explosion, which is believed to have been caused by a natural gas leak.
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8:30 a.m.
The National Transportation Safety Board says it’s sending investigators to a Minneapolis school where an explosion and partial building collapse killed two people and injured more than a-half dozen others.
Agency spokesman Eric Weiss said the NTSB team is expected to arrive Thursday at Minnehaha Academy. Investigators believe the explosion was caused by natural gas. Weiss says the NTSB is investigating because it has jurisdiction over gas pipelines.
Minnehaha Academy officials say the blast, fire and collapse Wednesday morning killed Ruth Berg, the school’s receptionist for 17 years. Fire officials said her body was found about 2 p.m. and a second body, believed to be that of school janitor John Carlson, was pulled from the rubble about 8 p.m.
Four people remained hospitalized with injuries, including one in critical condition.
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7 a.m.
Hundreds of people packed a campus chapel to pray and comfort each other at the Minneapolis school where two people were killed and more than a-half dozen others were hurt in an explosion and partial building collapse.
Minnehaha Academy President Donna Harris, who was injured in Wednesday’s explosion and collapse, encouraged those gathered at the campus of the Christian school Wednesday night to trust God and they will get through the ordeal.
The blast, fire and collapse Wednesday morning occurred in the upper school. Minnehaha Academy said the explosion killed Ruth Berg, the school’s receptionist for 17 years. Fire officials said her body was found about 2 p.m. and a second body, believed to be that of school janitor John Carlson, was pulled from the rubble about 8 p.m.
Four people remained hospitalized with injuries, including one in critical condition.
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6:20 a.m.
A contractor that was issued a permit for gas piping and meter work at a Minneapolis school where an explosion and partial collapse killed two people and injured at least seven others says its employees were among the injured.
A statement early Thursday from Master Mechanical Inc. says the company is grateful to first responders and bystanders who came to the aid of the injured, including its employees. The company did not say how many of its employees were hurt at Minnehaha Academy on Wednesday.
The Star Tribune reports that city records show Master Mechanical was issued a permit for “gas piping and hooking up meter” at the school’s address.
Fire officials said a second body was recovered from the rubble Wednesday night. The school earlier said longtime receptionist Ruth Berg died in the blast, and that janitor John Carlson was missing. Officials have not identified the second body.
The private Christian school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
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12:20 a.m.
Cleanup work is expected to begin one day after a deadly natural gas explosion and partial building collapse at a Minneapolis school.
Fire Chief John Fruetel says a second body was recovered from the rubble at Minnehaha Academy around 8 p.m. Wednesday. Fruetel says the medical examiner’s office was working to notify relatives.
The school earlier Wednesday said longtime receptionist Ruth Berg died in the blast, and that janitor John Carlson was missing. At a news conference Wednesday night, Fruetel didn’t specify whether Carlson’s body was the one that was located.
The fire chief says the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear. The state fire marshal’s office is assisting in the investigation.
The private Christian school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
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