911 calls from North Carolina home explosion describe chaotic scene

WEDDINGTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The 911 calls and dispatch audio reveal more details about Sunday morning's house explosion in Weddington.

Union County authorities say the explosion, which tore through half of a home on Steeple Chase Circle, injured a man and woman inside.

The initial call reported to 911, just before 9 a.m. featured a caller, somewhat out of breath and emotional, informing operators that "our neighbor's house exploded."

The explosion could be heard for miles.

At the scene in the Steeplechase neighborhood, insulation littered the yard, and plywood had been thrown into trees.

A neighboring house also had significant damage. The owner of that home gave Queen City News a tour of how the blast damaged his house: Glass windows and window frames were blown away, and he said his roof and the foundation were briefly lifted from the explosion's shockwave.

"The brick wall (at my home) redirected some of the explosion," the neighbor said. "I was in an IED (incident) in Iraq, so it kind of felt like that. Similar to the concussion on your chest, the ears popping."

The neighbor noted that he, his wife and son were at home at the time, but none were injured.

Neighbors described the two who lived at the home at the center of the explosion as a couple in their 80s.

According to authorities, the husband of the couple had burns from the blast and was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, while the wife was treated for lacerations.

While the blast has been ruled accidental, an official cause has not been given for the blast, though many believe it is a result of some sort of gas leak.