One person dead after Waterloo house explosion
WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) - One person died in a home explosion in Waterloo early Wednesday morning.
Waterloo Fire Rescue said the explosion happened at a home on the corner of Sager Avenue and Sheerer Avenue.
Neighbors in the area told TV9 they heard what sounded like an explosion between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.
According to Waterloo Fire Battalion Chief Ben Petersen, there was a large explosion, and after that crews found a small gas leak and a small fire.
One neighbor said the explosion blew their door open and broke a few items inside their house.
Following the explosion, more than 250 people were reported to be without power in the area for several hours.
Power has since been restored.
MidAmerican Energy says The Waterloo Fire Marshall made a preliminary determination that MidAmerican’s gas delivery system or equipment was not responsible and that the source was inside the home.
The gas company has done testing in the area and didn’t find any gas leaks.
However, neighbors are still worried.
“It definitely makes me want to call and get an inspection on my house because I mean, I’m a very anxious person and it makes me feel a little bit unsafe,” says one neighbor.
MidAmerican Energy specifically noted that in the last five years there have been no reports or complaints of suspected gas leaks from this neighborhood.
But after what happened overnight in this area, people are understandably alarmed.
MidAmerican says if you do smell natural gas, leave the area immediately, go to a safe place and call 911.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Officials are asking residents to avoid the area as investigators gather information.
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