Occupied home explodes in Weddington subdivision, NC cops say. Couple hospitalized

A Weddington home exploded for reasons that remain a mystery, putting a man and woman in the hospital, according to investigators.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports it received “numerous reports of a large explosion” around 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, on Steeple Chase Circle in the Steeple Chase subdivision. The neighborhood is about a 16-mile drive southeast from uptown Charlotte.

“Law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel quickly arrived at the scene, discovering severe damage to a portion of a home,” the Union County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

“First responders provided immediate aid to the injured occupants.”

The couple was identified only as an “elderly man and woman.” The man suffered burns during the explosion and he is in stable condition at Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, Union County officials said in a Facebook post.

“His wife, who was also injured, was treated at a local hospital and has since been released,” the county reported.

He was inside the home when it exploded, officials said. His wife’s location was not revealed.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, officials said.

Commenters on social media report the explosion was strong enough to be felt at other homes in the area, and some people have reported hearing it miles away in nearby towns like Indian Trail.

“On behalf of all the first responders involved, we would like to express our gratitude to the Union County community for their outpouring of support and concern for this local family,” the sheriff’s office said.

This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 5:16 AM.