NEWPORT, Pa. - One person has been confirmed dead after a house exploded in Perry County early Wednesday morning, according to updated reporting citing Pennsylvania State Police.
The victim's body was recovered from the debris of the destroyed home in Howe Township.
Authorities had initially confirmed the explosion and a large emergency response but had not released information about casualties during the first hours of the investigation.
The confirmation of a death marks a significant update in the developing incident.
Pennsylvania State Police said troopers from the Newport barracks were dispatched to the 100 block of Juniata Parkway East at approximately 5:30 a.m. Wednesday following reports of a house explosion.
Emergency crews arriving at the scene found the home destroyed and debris spread across the surrounding area.
WGAL reported Wednesday afternoon that state police confirmed one person had been killed and that the victim's body was recovered from the debris.
The person's identity had not been publicly released as of the latest reports.
Authorities also had not publicly released the victim's age or said whether anyone else was inside the house when the explosion occurred.
The Perry County Coroner's Office responded to the scene Wednesday morning.
Cause remains under investigation
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating what caused the explosion.
Officials have not publicly identified a suspected cause.
There has been no official determination that natural gas, propane, an electrical malfunction or another specific source caused the blast.
Authorities also have not announced any evidence indicating the explosion was intentional.
Investigators are expected to examine debris, utility systems and other physical evidence as they work to determine where the explosion originated and what triggered it.
Any conclusion about the cause before investigators release their findings would be premature.
Explosion reported around 5:30 a.m.
The explosion occurred in the 100 block of Juniata Parkway East in Howe Township, immediately northeast of Newport.
WITF reported that Pennsylvania State Police dispatched troopers from the Newport barracks to the location at approximately 5:30 a.m.
Residents in the surrounding area reported hearing and feeling the explosion from a considerable distance, according to local news reports.
The intensity of the blast left the area around the residence covered in debris.
Emergency crews began searching the destroyed structure as firefighters, police and other responders secured the scene.
The victim was later located within the debris.
Road closed during emergency operations
Juniata Parkway East was closed in both directions between Shortcut Road and Gypsy Hollow Road during the emergency response, according to WITF.
State police asked the public to stay away from the area while emergency crews and investigators worked.
The road, also designated State Route 1015, runs through Howe Township near the Juniata River and provides access to homes and communities northeast of Newport.
Authorities had not immediately provided a timetable for when all emergency operations at the scene would be completed.
Investigators may need to keep portions of the site secured while evidence is collected and the cause of the explosion is determined.
Howe Township is a rural Perry County community located north of Harrisburg along the Juniata River.
U.S. Routes 22 and 322 also pass through the township, connecting the Harrisburg region with communities farther north and west.
Coroner involved in death investigation
The Perry County Coroner's Office was called to the scene after the explosion.
The coroner is responsible for investigating sudden, violent and unexplained deaths in Perry County and determining the cause and manner of death when required.
No official cause or manner of death for the victim had been released as of Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities also had not announced when the victim's identity might be made public.
Notifications to relatives typically occur before authorities publicly release the identity of a person killed in an incident.
Questions remain
Several major questions surrounding the explosion remain unanswered.
Investigators have not yet said what caused the blast, whether there had been any warning signs before the explosion or whether utilities to the residence were involved.
Officials also have not publicly detailed whether nearby structures sustained damage.
It remains unclear whether investigators from agencies beyond Pennsylvania State Police and local emergency services will participate in the cause investigation.
Depending on the evidence found at the scene, investigations of residential explosions can involve fire investigators, utility companies and other technical specialists.
No additional deaths or injuries had been publicly confirmed in the latest reporting reviewed by The American Desk.
The American Desk will continue updating this story as Pennsylvania State Police and the Perry County Coroner's Office release additional information about the victim and the cause of the explosion.