The explosion that destroyed a Ballantyne home Tuesday, killing one woman, was most likely caused by a natural gas leak inside the house, Charlotte Fire Department Fire Marshal Jon Leonard announced Wednesday afternoon.
The incident caused about $5 million in damages to the house and surrounding area, Charlotte Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Westover said. He said investigators are still trying to figure out what exactly went wrong inside the house and caused the explosion.
Police have identified the woman who was killed as 58-year-old Rania Karam, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report. She owned the home on James Jack Lane, county records show.
Her husband, Dr. Jebran Karam, 59, was also in the house at the time of the explosion and survived, police and fire officials said. He was airlifted to an area hospital, Charlotte Fire Department officials said Tuesday.