According to reference sources quoted by Agence France-Presse, French Interior Minister Gérard Dalmanen said on the 9th that an explosion occurred in the French city of Marseille on the Mediterranean coast on the same day, which caused two apartment buildings to collapse and as many as 10 people were buried under the rubble.
Marseille Mayor Payan said that one of the four-story residential buildings collapsed at about 0:40 a.m. local time on the 9th and caused a fire, injuring at least 5 people and evacuating more than 200 people from their homes. A local stadium and two schools have been opened to "homeless" people, and authorities will also provide psychological assistance to them.
It is reported that after the explosion, more than 100 firefighters have rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire. But Payan added: "There is a very high probability that someone will die in this terrible tragedy. "According to the latest information, two bodies have been found at the scene. It is reported that authorities have revealed that the missing included "a young couple". Firefighters said it would take some time to retrieve the bodies given the circumstances at the scene.
After the explosion, firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire
According to reports, the French authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the cause of the accident is currently unknown. Local official Christophe Mirmand said there was a "strong suspicion" that the explosion was caused by a gas leak. He also noted that the building in question was in good condition and that "there were no red flags before." ”
One local resident said he had "heard a loud explosion" and that "there was a huge shake when the house collapsed." Others said they had "smelled a certain gas" before the explosion. Saveria Mosnier, a nearby resident, recalled that "a violent explosion shook the whole room, and I was woken up and smelled a strong smell of gas."
According to the latest information, two bodies have been found at the scene
In 2018, it was reported that there were also house collapses in Marseille, resulting in eight deaths. After that, some agencies estimated that "about 40,000 people in the city live in structurally unstable and rudimentary houses." However, as for the collapse of the residential building, there are reports that local officials "seem to rule out correlation with the 'housing structure.'"
Red Star News reporter Li Jinrui
Edited by Wang He Editor: Li Binbin
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