WHITMORE LAKE, Mich. — An explosion at a house in Northfield Township, near Detroit, on Saturday afternoon resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left two others injured, according to authorities. The blast occurred in a rural area of the Whitmore Lake neighborhood, about 45 miles west of Detroit.
Responding to a call about an explosion at a single-family home on Winters Lane, Northfield Township Police and Michigan State Police arrived at the scene around 4 p.m. The impact of the explosion was strong enough to be heard in Jackson, and debris was even found on the other side of US-23. Thankfully, no neighboring homes suffered damage.
The identities of the four individuals who lost their lives have not yet been released, while the conditions of the two injured individuals remain unknown. Officials have not determined whether there were children present in the house during the explosion, nor have they established any familial relationships among the victims.
Video footage shared on social media by Nate Mark captured parts of the explosion, providing a glimpse of the devastating incident. The cause of the explosion remains a mystery, and Northfield Township Police Lt. Dave Powell admitted, “We don’t know,” speculating that it could have been a gas explosion. Authorities discovered debris from the explosion on the other side of 23-mile road, alongside some paperwork.
In response to the incident, DTE Energy, a natural gas company, joined local fire and hazmat crews to secure the scene. Power to the area was also shut off as a precautionary measure.
As investigations into the explosion continue, authorities aim to uncover the underlying cause behind this tragic event.