House explosion in Minnesota kills 20-year-old dogsitter

A 20-year-old woman died late Saturday in rural Le Sueur County when the home where she was house-sitting exploded and then collapsed in a fire, authorities said.

Deputies and firefighters responded to a report of an explosion and a fire at 11:30 p.m. on 211th Avenue in Le Center, which is in Lexington Township, about six miles northeast of Le Center, according to a press release from the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office. Crews arrived to find that the home had collapsed from the explosion and was still burning, the release said. 

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The house explosion happened in a rural part of Le Sueur County.

Firefighters began putting out the flames and learned that the owner of the home and his family were traveling, but a 20-year-old woman had been staying at the residence, house-sitting and taking care of the dogs, the release said. 

Firefighters found the body of a woman in the basement. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct the autopsy and confirm her identity. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 

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Debris left in the yard after the house explosion near Le Center, Minnesota.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.