A huge  explosion has destroyed a longtime Kansas City nightspot near the Country Club Plaza. Sixteen people have been injured, two critically. At least one person is not accounted for.

A natural gas leak is being blamed for the blast that destroyed J. J.’s Restaurant. The missing person is a woman who worked at the bar as a server.

Most customers had left the buiding after being warned of a gas leak. Staff members had just been warned to evacuate immediately when the place blew up.