2 Dead, 2 Missing In NJ Home Explosion That Also Injured Infant And Teen

BUENA, NJ — Two people are dead and two are still unaccounted for after a house explosion Thursday in Atlantic County, with an infant and a teenager also injured, according to reports.

The 1-year-old girl is in critical condition, reported FOX 29 on Thursday.

Officials are investigating the explosion and resulting fire in Buena as a criminal matter, according to the Press of Atlantic City's Eric Conklin. They have not yet indicated what caused the blast, which happened around 10:30 a.m.

The three-alarm fire, in the 300 block of Northwest Boulevard, damaged at least two homes, Conklin reported.

Franklin Township Police, in nearby Gloucester County, said residents behind the scene could return to their homes as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The immediate area of Northwest Boulevard in the Landisville section of Buena is "still under an evacuation order," police said Thursday afternoon.

Officials did not release information about the deceased, or identify the missing persons.

Earlier in the day, Franklin Township Police Chief Matthew DeCesari said two adult males, and two additional children between the ages of two and four were inside the residence, per 6ABC.

According to FOX 29, police said the 1-year-old and 16-year-old suffered from burns, and first responders transported both of them to a Philadelphia children's hospital. The teen was reportedly in stable condition. Crews pulled the young child and the teen from the home around 10:30 a.m., the FOX 29 report said.

A man who works nearby told 6ABC that he heard a loud "boom," and went outside to see smoke pouring from the home. The home was "reduced to rubble," according to the 6ABC report.

Photos and video posted to social media showed flames and heavy smoke coming from the home.