Eight persons are feared to be trapped underneath the rubble of two buildings that collapsed following an explosion within the south of France.
TV footage confirmed clouds of smoke rising from the ruins as firefighters tried to douse the flames in Marseille.
Sniffer canine are trying to find victims.
The reason for the explosion shouldn’t be but recognized, mentioned Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens.
The collapse of the buildings precipitated a fireplace that has sophisticated the rescue effort, Ms Laurens informed reporters.
Five folks had been taken to hospital with severe however not life-threatening accidents.
A person who gave his title solely as Roland mentioned survivors had “lost everything”.
“We have nothing, not even an ID card,” he informed native newspaper La Provence.
He managed to get out of the constructing at 15 Rue de Tivoli together with his spouse and two kids earlier than it collapsed together with a neighbouring one.
There was additionally a partial collapse of a 3rd constructing.
Read extra from Sky News:
Father’s emotional tribute to British-Israeli sisters
New proof in infamous triple homicide case
British lady falls from Benidorm lodge balcony
In complete, 30 buildings within the space had been evacuated, mentioned Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who visited the location.
“Thoughts are with Marseille,” President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.
In 2018, a couple of kilometre from the collapses, three buildings thought-about not match for habitation additionally collapsed,
killing eight folks.
The mayor of Marseille mentioned a parallel couldn’t be drawn between the 2 occasions, whereas the prosecutor mentioned the buildings that collapsed on Sunday weren’t recognized to have any structural issues.
Source: information.sky.com”