The Latest: Coffee shop owner identified as explosion victim

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on a gas explosion in downtown Durham, North Carolina (all times local):

10:10 p.m.

Police in North Carolina have identified the person killed in a blast that leveled a building.

The Durham Police Department issued a statement Wednesday night identifying the victim as 61-year-old Kong Lee. Police said he was the owner of Kaffeinate coffee shop, which was located at the site of the explosion.

Police officials said that boring work in the area appears to have caused a gas leak that preceded the explosion. The cause of the blast is still under investigation.

Seventeen other people were taken to area hospitals, including six in critical condition.

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6:35 p.m.

A firefighters group says a Durham firefighter injured in a downtown explosion is out of surgery.

Professional Firefighters of Durham posted on social media that the firefighter was doing well.

In a subsequent post, the group said the unidentified firefighter was "cutting up and in good spirits."

The group also said two other firefighters were being checked out but are doing well.

Officials say one person was killed in the explosion.

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2:45 p.m.

An emergency official says six of the people injured in a deadly explosion in downtown Durham North Carolina, were critically hurt and one of them has been transferred to the burn unit.

Durham EMS Assistant Chief Lee Van Vleet told a news conference a total of 17 people were hospitalized after the Wednesday morning blast that partially collapsed a building and set it on fire.

Durham Fire Chief Robert Zoldos was one of the first responders after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and told reporters the building now looks like the Pentagon did after terrorists crashed a passenger jet into...