An explosion ripped through several floors of a block of flats in Bucharest on Friday, October 17th.
With three dead and numerous people injured, including school pupils., rescue services are now searching for survivors.
Romanian first responders said at least three died, with 13 more in hospital. Emergency services described the likely cause as a gas leak. Rescuers continue to search for blast victims, with one reportedly found trapped under rubble on the sixth floor.
The explosion severely damaged two floors of the eight-storey block, putting the building at risk of collapse and forcing the evacuations of residents, as well as pupils and teachers in a nearby high school in the southwest of the Romanian capital.as lesk
The most likely cause of the explosion is gas, said rescue services head Raed Arafat, without giving further details.“The building is at risk of collapse, which is why it is being completely evacuated by firefighters,” he told television stations at the scene. He added the authorities decided to close off the area, deeming it dangerous.
“I thought we were being bombed,” one witness told local media, while others said they thought an earthquake was happening.
Two of those hospitalized are in serious condition, according to authorities. The explosion also damaged windows at the nearby, now evacuated school. Some pupils were injured reported the Bucharest school inspectorate, without saying how many:
The pupils who suffered minor injuries received medical attention at the school and were subsequently picked up by their parents.