The cause of the explosion is not yet known. One reason is thought to be an explosion caused by a gas.
6.5. 17:18 | Updated 6.5. 20:58
Two people were killed and at least 18 were injured in an explosion in the Salamanca district of central Madrid one Friday afternoon local time.
The two men who died in the blast had repaired the building at the time of the blast, according to the Reuters news agency. José Luis Martínez Almeida. Reuters said earlier that “some kind of construction work was being done on the building.”
According to the Madrid authorities, most of the injuries are not serious.
Earlier on Friday, when the death toll was not yet known Spanish newspaper El País said four people had been taken to hospital and a total of 17 injured in the wake of the blast. At the time, rescue authorities were in the process of finding out who might be inside the building.
Explosion occurred in a four-story building that was significantly damaged.
The cause of the explosion is not yet clear, but El País said it could be a gas-induced explosion, as some people in the neighborhood said they smelled the gas in the air before the explosion. However, the gas cannot yet be identified as a definite cause of the explosion.
“We don’t know what happened. Neighbors say there was a strong explosion, but we are exploring all options, ”says Martínez Alisella, Mayor of Madrid.
Authorities asked the people to leave the area to facilitate the activities of the Madrid police, rescue authorities and civilian rescuers.
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