Illinois ? An explosion destroyed a house in Frankfort early Saturday and the bodies of the elderly couple who occupied the home were found in the wreckage, authorities said. Seven other homes were destroyed.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation, said Richard Caragol, a Nicor Inc. natural gas company spokesman. Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil identified the dead couple as Clyde and Luella Reils, of Frankfort, about 25 miles southwest of Chicago.

Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland said the couple were longtime residents who had children and grandchildren living throughout Chicago’s south suburbs.

Holland said the explosion reduced the couple’s home to rubble. Suzy Turnbull, a disaster team coordinator with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, said the scene resembled the destruction sometimes wrought by a tornado.

Authorities reported no other injuries from the blast.