Federal investigators say a utility wasn't marked before a deadly natural gas explosion in Missouri

LEXINGTON, Mo. (AP) — A deadly detonation that leveled 1 Missouri location and damaged 2 others happened aft a subcontractor drilled into an unmarked underground state main portion installing fibre optic cable, the National Transportation Safety Board announced Monday.

One idiosyncratic was killed and 2 others were injured successful the April 9 detonation successful the 4,500-person municipality of Lexington, Missouri, which is astir 55 miles (88.51 kilometers) westbound of downtown Kansas City.

Liberty Utilities, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, sent idiosyncratic retired to people its lines earlier the subcontractor began digging, but the uncapped state main conception progressive successful the mishap wasn't identified, the NTSB said successful its preliminary report.

A fewer hours earlier the explosion, the subcontractor felt their drill onslaught thing and smelled odorized earthy gas. The unit supervisor past called 911.

Firefighters and a unit with Liberty Utilities arrived and worked to halt the travel of gas. One concern astir 15 feet (4.57 meters) from the leak was evacuated. But respective different adjacent buildings were not evacuated, including the destroyed and damaged homes, which ranged from 80 feet to 160 feet (18.29 meters to 24.38 meters) from the leak, the NTSB said.

The NTSB said it continues to analyse the evacuation procedures and Liberty Utilities’ repair history, grounds keeping and exigency response. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. didn't instantly respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking information.