Search crews recover man's body after explosion leveled home near French Lick, Indiana

FRENCH LICK, Ind. (WDRB) -- Search crews located a man's body Tuesday after a massive explosion flattened a home Monday evening near French Lick.

Crews returned to the site of the explosion Tuesday morning to search for the man, who was unaccounted for after the explosion. The body was found around 9 a.m. in the home's basement, according to officials with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Investigators said the man was one of two people who reside in the home. The victim was about to cook dinner and was on the phone with the other resident just before the explosion around 6:15 p.m. Monday.

Debris is everywhere. It looks like a bomb went off:

This is the site of the home explosion in Dubois co. on North County Road. Crews are searching for one man still unaccounted for.

They’ll focus search efforts where the smoke is. That’s where the basement was. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/gNfZ7UFGJk
— Amanda Roberts (@ARobertsNews) January 23, 2024

The victim's name has not been released.

Investigators said the explosion was caused by a propane tank.

Former home after an explosion near French Lick.jpg — Crews clean up remains of a home after an explosion near French Lick, Indiana on Jan. 23, 2023. (*Photo courtesy of Indiana Department of Homeland Security*)

The home, in the 9000 block of North County Road 1100 East, is about about 15 minutes from French Lick Resort. The blast was so powerful it frightened nearby residents and damaged other homes.

The site where the home exploded was littered with debris Tuesday as searchers looked for the victim.

The Dubois County Fire Department said it took six different departments to contain the blaze and put out all the hot spots. On Tuesday. crews were focusing the search on the basement area of the property. Smoke could still be seen coming from that area late Tuesday morning.

These images are unreal.

Dubois co. home explosion site: Crews will be focusing their search efforts where you see the smoke. That’s where the basement is.

One man is still unaccounted for. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/Y66ZnYxQwx
— Amanda Roberts (@ARobertsNews) January 23, 2024

Indiana State Police in Jasper said in a Facebook post Monday that the Lost River Township Fire Department advised them some houses a half-mile away were damaged, and the explosion was heard 10 miles away. Some WDRB Facebook commenters said they heard it as far away as Mitchell.

Nate King, who lives next door, said he could see debris floating in the air, when he ran outside after the explosion.

"I was out working in the woodshop and I had hearing protection on for equipment and whatnot, listening to a podcast, and it scared me to death," he said.