Tragic Home Explosion at Ballantyne Country Club in Charlotte, NC

July 29, 2019

A Charlotte residence was rocked by a tragic explosion in early July 2019, resulting in the death of a woman and injuring her husband, as confirmed by fire investigators.


The explosion, attributed to an interior gas leak, occurred before 2 p.m. on July 2 at a residence situated on James Jack Lane in Ballantyne Country Club. Dr. Jabran Karam and his wife, 58-year-old Rania Karam, had just returned from a vacation when the explosion occurred within minutes of their entry into the home.


Investigations revealed a significant increase in natural gas levels in the days leading up to the couple's return, suggesting that the residence was likely saturated with gas. Although Jabran Karam, who remained alert after the explosion, reported smelling gas to first responders.


Tragically, Rania Karam was discovered deceased among the debris hours after the explosion.

Despite the devastation, Jabran Karam managed to call 911 from beneath the wreckage using his Apple Watch, providing critical information to emergency crews for locating him.


Charlotte Fire Department Captain Michael, in an interview with WBTV, described the challenging conditions faced by responders, as the explosion had transformed the interior of the residence beyond recognition. Jabran Karam was airlifted to the hospital and remained conscious during the rescue operation.


The search for Rania Karam took nearly seven hours, with officials eventually confirming that all individuals involved in the incident had been accounted for.


In the aftermath, witnesses reported debris striking neighboring homes, with flames and smoke emanating from the rubble and surrounding areas showing signs of damage.

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