Minnehaha Academy confirmed Ruth Berg, a receptionist with the school for 17 years, died as a result of the explosion.
“As our receptionist, she welcomed everyone with a smile and was always willing to go the extra mile to help our students, families, and staff. She will be greatly missed,” the Academy said in a Facebook post.
In a separate Facebook post, the Academy said that John Carlson, another school employee, is “still unaccounted for.”
A second body was pulled from the rubble later on Wednesday, but authorities declined to identify the second victim, pending notification of next of kin.
The Hennepin County Medical Center said they are treating four patients from the explosion, one was said to be in critical condition, while three others were described as “satisfactory.” they also said there were five patients discharged.
The school also said that all of their Summer Program students and staff are “accounted for and safe” and most afternoon camps will continue as planned.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, Minneapolis Assistant Fire Chief of Bryan Tyner said responders are still searching through the debris for the one missing person, but did not disclose the identity of that person.
Tyner said that city inspectors have inspected the building and fire crew have been working with heavy equipment contractors and other city officials to remove debris. He said that they have a “general location” of where the missing person might be located,
“My hope is that there might be a void space. We don’t know,” Tyner said. “But I want to be very precise and very strategic in what we’re trying to do here and not just go in there with a bucket and start taking the building apart. We have to take our time.”
Police said five people were taken to a local hospital for treatment while one person was treated at the scene. Earlier reports said that three people were unaccounted for, but one was subsequently found alive and another found dead.
RT – 08/02/2017
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