EDEN, N.C. – It’s been nearly three weeks since an explosion destroyed the KFC restaurant on Van Buren Road in Eden, but officials have yet to determine the cause.

Witnesses and some KFC staff said at the time that the blast appeared to have been caused by natural gas leak.

The explosion obliterated the fast food restaurant around 12:39 on the morning of July 11. The business was closed at the time and there were no injuries.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined Eden officials in their investigation and continue to study evidence recovered at the scene. Piedmont Natural Gas Co., natural gas supplier to the restaurant, is also assisting in the probe.

The blast awoke nearby residents and shook homes as far away as Ridgeway, Virginia.

Officials have given no timetable for concluding their investigation.