Oklahoma Gas Well Explosion: Remains Of 5 Missing Men Found

QUINTON, OK — The remains of the missing five men have all been found a day after a gas well exploded in Quinton. The victims were from Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas.

The fiery blast erupted just before 9 a.m. Monday on state Route 31 and Bascom Road, according to Pittsburg County officials. The explosion sent a cloud of thick smoke into the air and crumpled a derrick, a tall metal structure above the well.

On Tuesday morning, the McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management office said they had moved from rescue to recovery mode.

"Fire and rescue personnel performed initial, primary and secondary searches of the immediate area yesterday for those missing, without success," the office said in a release.

Later on Tuesday, the office said their remains had all been recovered by 2:00 p.m. The remains will be taken to the medical examiner’s office for identification.

The victims were identified as:

• Josh Ray, 35, Fort Worth, Texas
• Matt Smith, 29, McAlester, Oklahoma
• Cody Risk, 26, Wellington, Colorado
• Parker Waldridge, 60, Crescent, Oklahoma
• Roger Cunningham, 55, Seminole, Oklahoma

Photo credit: Screenshot of YouTube video