3 injured during reported house explosion in East Bethel

Three men are in the hospital after a reported explosion Monday morning in East Bethel.

The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. at a place that was under construction on the 2800 block of Viking Boulevard Northeast.

“They quickly determined there were three people trapped inside the structure where the explosion occurred,” said Lt. Bill Jacobson with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

At this time, authorities don’t believe anyone else was inside.

The three injured men were said to be working on the home at the time of the explosion. Responders flew one of the men to the Hennepin County Medical Center and took the other two there by ambulance.

No word on the men’s conditions as of 7 p.m. Monday.

Jacobson said there was clear evidence of an explosion but added it’s up to the fire department to determine if there was a fire or other catalyst. The East Bethel Fire Department wasn’t taking additional questions about the cause Monday.

Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion, which they say could take “many months.”

Earlier Monday, Chopper 5 video showed extensive damage to the structure, which also appeared to have partially collapsed. There also wasn’t any siding on the building. Scroll to the bottom of the article for more video from Chopper 5.