Wilmington Veterinary Clinic's MRI Machine Survives Explosion

The only pet MRI in the area is now offering critical services months after the devastating blast.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:05pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image of a veterinary MRI machine, its internal components glowing against a dark background, conveying a sense of resilience and hope.The survival of Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center's MRI machine amid a devastating explosion offers a glimmer of hope for the clinic and the community it serves.Wilmington Today

After a massive explosion destroyed the new facility for Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, one surviving piece of equipment - the clinic's MRI machine - is now providing a critical service to the region. The $24 million project, which was weeks away from opening, was demolished when a driver hit a gas line, causing the entire building to explode. Despite the devastation, the MRI machine was repaired and is now operating outside the old hospital, allowing families to get answers faster and closer to home.

Why it matters

The explosion was a devastating blow to the veterinary clinic, which had planned to offer pet owners more options for emergency care. The survival of the MRI machine provides a glimmer of hope for the staff as they work to rebuild and continue advancing pet care in the community.

The details

The MRI machine, which the staff affectionately call 'Mariah', was the only piece of equipment to survive the explosion that demolished the entire $24 million facility. After seven months of repairs, the machine is now operating outside the old hospital, allowing the clinic to provide the only pet MRI service in the area. The staff is anticipating at least three scans per day for the foreseeable future.

  • The building on New Centre Drive in Wilmington exploded on August 19, 2025 after a driver hit a gas line.
  • The MRI machine started operating again outside the old hospital seven months after the explosion.

The players

Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center

The veterinary clinic whose new $24 million facility was destroyed in the explosion.

Gary Walker

The hospital administrator who said the explosion was 'a punch in the gut' for the entire team.

Justin Blanton

A registered veterinary technician who was hired for the neurology department in the new building.

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What they’re saying

“When the blast happened, it was like a punch in the gut for our entire team.”

— Gary Walker, Hospital Administrator

“To know that we had this that survived and they were able to repair it, it gave us something to hold on to, because we had strong vision about what we wanted to offer Wilmington and this is a part of that.”

— Gary Walker, Hospital Administrator

“We've already done 10 scans and we are anticipating at least three a day for the foreseeable future.”

— Justin Blanton, Registered Veterinary Technician

What’s next

It will be a few years before the new building for Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center is reconstructed, according to Gary Walker.

The takeaway

The survival of the veterinary clinic's MRI machine provides a glimmer of hope for the staff as they work to rebuild and continue advancing pet care in the Wilmington community, even as they grapple with the devastating loss of their new $24 million facility.