Husband and wife dead after mobile home explosion in Minnesota that also killed the family dog

The victims were identified by police as Royce Edward Kreger Jr., 60, and Katherine Ann Kreger, 61

Tragedy struck a Minnesota town after a mobile home explosion killed a local couple and their dog.

According to a statement from the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, an RV explosion occurred at approximately 3:54 a.m. local time on Tuesday, May 7.

“Officers arrived on scene at 8242 52nd ST and located a large debris field from an apparent explosion, which was still engulfed in flames at the time. “With the help of several fire departments in the area, the fire was extinguished,” police said, noting that a first responder found the bodies of two victims while searching the rubble.

Those victims were Royce Edward Kreger Jr., 60, and Katherine Ann Kreger, 61.

“A family dog ​​was also found dead in the rubble,” police said.

Related: Police reveal identities of three people killed in RV plane crash in Florida

According to the information, the victims were a married couple Minneapolis Star Tribune.

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The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

See also: Couple married for over 60 years killed in Pennsylvania house explosion: ‘The best parents’

The owner of the property reported this Minneapolis Star Tribune that the couple had lived there for about five years – and described Royce as a “very, very dear friend”.

“He was fantastic,” Stuart Bryan. “He took better care of the place than if I lived there.”

Speaking to the newspaper, Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Evenson said the cleanup and recovery process will be lengthy. “This is mass destruction,” he told the medium, calling it the “biggest explosion I’ve ever seen.”

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

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