House Explosion Rocks Excelsior Springs, Two People Missing

Excelsior Springs, MO — A powerful explosion leveled a house near Gabe Travis Circle early Friday morning, leaving two residents unaccounted for and prompting an extensive search and investigation by local and state authorities.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office received the first emergency call at 4:42 a.m. from a neighbor reporting that a neighbor’s home had exploded. According to Clay County Sheriff’s Office Chief Information Officer Sarah Boyd, several other calls from the surrounding neighborhood followed soon after.

“When deputies arrived on the scene, the house was completely leveled,” Boyd said. “There was nothing really left of it—just debris everywhere. A fire was still burning, and the explosion was powerful enough to blow open the doors of nearby houses.”

The explosion was reportedly seen from Highway 92 in Kearney and felt across a wide area. Boyd confirmed that two people lived in the house, but they have not yet been located.

“We have brought in Missouri search and rescue canines to assist in the search, and a manual search is also underway,” Boyd added. “The Excelsior Springs Fire Department and Police Department are providing assistance in this case.”

Authorities have also enlisted the help of the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Missouri Propane Safety Commission to determine the cause of the explosion. While foul play has not been ruled out, Boyd noted that there is currently no evidence to suggest it.

“We did locate a deceased dog at the house, which we believe lived there,” Boyd said. “We don’t know if the residents were in the home at the time, but we’re hoping they were not.”

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they continue to search for the missing individuals and piece together the events leading up to the explosion.

If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!

House Explosion Rocks Excelsior Springs, Two People Missing

Talk of the Town – August 12-18, 2024

Excelsior Springs Moves Forward with Safe Streets and Sidewalks Project

Excelsior Springs Weekly Horoscopes

Excelsior Springs Irish Festival: Meet the Bands Bringing the Music to Life!

Governor Parson and First Lady to Celebrate Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Missouri