Hunterdon County Home Explosion Kills One

A home has exploded in Hampton in a residential section of the Hunterdon County community killing a woman whose body was found in the basement.

The Express-Times reports the woman's body was found in the basement late on Wednesday morning but an identification has not been made. State Police tell the newspaper the woman lived in the basement of the home.

Only one person was inside the home on New Street after the explosion around 7 a.m. the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office tells WPVI TV. Neighbors tell the Express-Times there were two explosions in succession. " I heard a boom and I saw it collapse," said another.

The home is described as being completely destroyed.

At a press conference they called their current efforts as a recovery effort. A neighbors told WCBS one person lived in the basement and did not get out at the time of the explosion.

Tom Dellaventura, a retired fire captain from Plainfield, heard the woman cry for help and tried to get her out. "It's very frustrating to hear someone and not be able to help," he told the Express-Times.

Firefighters are dousing the rubble of the home with water.  WCBS TV reports that neighboring homes were evacuated. Smoke was visible for 4 miles.

WABC TV reports oxygen in the home may have contributed to the explosion. Elizabethtown Gas in a statement said their crews responded to the home within 15 minutes and verified that the home did not receive natural gas. They inspected the gas main in the area and found no leaks.

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