Authorities are investigating a house explosion that damaged homes late Friday in the town of Leland near Wilmington.
Two people were hurt but weren’t taken to a hospital, according to a social media post by Leland Fire/Rescue. One was rescued, fire officials said.
The home exploded just after 7:30 p.m. Friday in the 1300 block of Suncrest Way in the Magnolia Greens subdivision, according to the fire department.
“At least four homes were heavily damaged, with others impacted,” fire officials said in their post. “There is no ongoing threat.”
The cause remains under investigation, town officials said in a 2:30 p.m. update Saturday. “The Town will work with insurance providers and other partners to determine the cause once it is safe to do so,” according to the statement.
“The investigation is active and may take time to complete,” officials said. “The Town thanks the community for its patience and cooperation throughout the response.”
The American Red Cross is helping people who were displaced.
“I heard this really loud bang, ... and everything just kinda came in on you,” Nathan White, who was playing his guitar in the home, told WECT.
The blast left a huge hole in the roof of the home and blew garage doors in across the street, the Wilmington StarNews reported.
The explosion was in a townhouse, officials said.
Town building inspectors, police, emergency management workers and Leland Fire/Rescue crews remained in the neighborhood Saturday, “with the top priorities being property safety and structural evaluations,” according to the town statement.
Inspectors assessed about 70 units in the Three Oaks section of Magnolia Greens and deemed four homes unsafe to live in due to structural damage.
“Most damage outside the immediate impact area is minor and primarily limited to drywall and other non-structural elements, making them safe for residents to enter,” according to the statement
Fencing will be installed to secure the area during the investigation, officials said.
“Residents are encouraged to stay out of the area,” according to the statement. “The Town is coordinating with Duke Energy to restore power to two units found safe for occupancy.”
The town will schedule a community meeting to update residents on the investigation and answer questions.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published May 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM.
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Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription