School Collapse in Minneapolis Leaves 3 Unaccounted For

School Collapse in Minneapolis Leaves 2 Dead

A gas leak at a Minneapolis schools has caused an explosion leaving two staff members dead.

  • Aug 03, 2017

[UPDATE: August 3, 2017 9:00 a.m. CT]

Minneapolis Fire has confirmed that two people have died in the partial school collapse following a gas leak.

Both victims were staff members of the upper Minneapolis school, the first to be found in the rubble was a receptionist, Ruth Berg, who had been with the school for 17 years. The second was an 81-year-old janitor.

[UPDATE: August 2, 2017 12:05 p.m. CT]

Minneapolis Fire Department has confirmed the number of unaccounted people is now down to two people. One person who was previously unaccounted for was found unharmed.

The fire chief was also able to confirm that the gas leak was the result of a severed gas line by contractors employed to work on the building.

The original story is posted below.

Rescues are underway after a school in Minneapolis partially collapsed after a explosion on Wednesday morning.

The explosion happened at Minnehaha's Upper School, according to the school district. The Minneapolis Fire Department was able to confirm that the explosion was a result of a gas leak at the school.

In a series of tweets, the Minneapolis police department confirmed that three people had been rescued from the roof of the school, five people were transported to area hospitals and three people were still unaccounted for at the time of this writing.

Officials believe there were about a dozen students in the gym at the time of the explosion. Those students and staff have been accounted for. There is another group of people who were closer to the explosion at the back of the building, it is from this group of people that police and fire officials believe there are people missing.

Minnehaha Academy posted on their Facebook page to confirm the explosion and give parents a place to pick up their students if they were at the school.


Witnesses from the incident say that officials came over the loud speaker to ask those in the building to leave after smelling gas. It was seconds later that the explosion happened.

This story will be updated with timely information.

 

Featured

  • Unlocking the Possibilities

    Security needs continue to evolve and end users are under pressure to address emerging risks and safety concerns. For many, that focus starts with upgrading perimeter openings and layering technologies—beginning at the door. Read Now

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.