A corrected version of the story is below:

2 dead after explosion at Minneapolis school

Authorities say one person is dead and another is missing after a natural gas explosion at a college prep school in Minneapolis

By AMY FORLITI and JEFF BAENEN

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A second body was found in the rubble of a collapsed school building in Minneapolis after an explosion killed a school employee and injured several others, fire officials said Wednesday night. I thank the many firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers who rushed to the scene this morning, and who are working still to ensure the safety of our children, adults, friends, and neighbors.”

The Upper School currently serves grades 9-12, while the lower and middle school serves students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade. Contractors were working on one of the campus’ buildings at the time of the blast, which investigators believe was caused by a natural gas explosion, said Assistant Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner. The explosion killed Ruth Berg, a receptionist for 17 years at the school who “welcomed everyone with a smile,” the school said in a statement, and part-time janitor John Carlson, who was found buried in the rubble at 8 p.m. Wednesday night. Officials at the school, which is located on 3100 West River Parkway, said that all of the children - some of whom were on the field at the time - had been accounted for. Two people remained hospitalized Thursday, including assistant soccer coach Bryan Duffey, who was in critical but stable condition, according to Hennepin County Medical Center. The counselor they were meeting with, Kristin Overton -- who is 7 months pregnant -- jumped over her desk and took cover, when the windows shattered and the ceiling came down. "Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner ... says three people were rescued from the roof, and another person initially believed missing was found unhurt." And it’s like, ‘we’re not going back until we get this guy out of here.’ And we got him out, and they got him on a stretcher.”

The Star Tribune reported that city records show Master Mechanical Inc. was issued a permit on June 7 for “gas piping and hooking up meter” at the school’s address. We are monitoring the situation and at this time we are referring all questions about the event to the Minneapolis Fire Department out of respect for their investigation." "School spokeswoman Sara Jacobson says classes were not in session, but there were students and staff in the building at the time: 'The students who were here on site were practicing basketball in the gym ... at the far northern side of the building,' [she said.] The school's director of advancement, Sarah Jacobson, said that staff and children were told to evacuate before the explosion, although she declined to give further details. “And then soon as it was over, we made our way down a dark hallway to the exit as quickly as we could.”

Gov. Mark Dayton issued a statement after being briefed on the incident: “My office is in continuous contact with the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, as emergency personnel respond to this emergency.
A natural gas explosion at college prep school Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota, kills two staff members. Another nine people were injured, seven of whom are hospitalized, three in critical and four in serious condition.