By AP/KWMU
Carlinville, Ill. – An explosion spread debris across about four city blocks in Carlinville, Ill. this morning (Wed.), killing at least two and injuring three others.
Carlinville Police Chief Dave Haley says the bodies of a 55-year-old woman and an eight-year-old boy were pulled from the rubble of the destroyed home.
Two other people - a 27-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy - suffered burns and were taken to a Springfield hospital. Also, a women in a neighboring home was taken to a hospital with lacerations.
The police chief says at least 15 homes were damaged by the explosion.
It's not known what caused the explosion. A spokesman for Ameren, which supplies natural gas and electricity to Carlinville, says its crews are on the scene investigating. "We have a natural gas explosion," said Ameren spokeswoman Susan Gallagher. "It was the home of a customer of ours and we're trying to investigate it now." The Illinois State Fire Marshall is also investigating.
Carlinville is about 60 miles northeast of St. Louis.