SOUTHGATE, Mich. — An early morning explosion destroyed a suburban Detroit house on Thursday, claiming the life of a woman trapped inside and leaving a man gravely injured after being ejected into the yard.
“Both individuals suffered severe burns and internal injuries,” according to Southgate police Det. Sgt. Nathan Mosczynski. “In addition, the woman sustained a significant leg injury.”
The blast, which occurred before 6 a.m., jolted the neighborhood awake. A nearby home’s window was shattered by a flying couch, while debris was scattered across several blocks, some pieces even settling in treetops.
“I initially thought it was just a thunderstorm,” recounted Arturo Ramirez, a local resident, to The Detroit News. “But then I noticed a crack appearing on my ceiling.”
Authorities reported that a 38-year-old woman, discovered among the wreckage inside the house, died from her injuries. The incident is currently considered to be gas-related; however, the exact cause is still under investigation, Mosczynski noted.