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HORRIFIC scenes have unfolded as a block of flats collapsed after an “explosion” in Marseille, leaving “many trapped” under the rubble.
The terrifying incident happened just after midnight in southern France, with rescue teams working around the clock to search for victims.
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According to local authorities, five people were injured from two residences next to the collapsed building in the central La Plaine district.
However, the total number of residents in the building at the time was unclear – with the casualty toll expected to grow.
Footage showed the streets around the collapsed building cordoned off as dust and smoke choked the area.
Firefighters were seen working their way through the debris.
Lionel Mathieu, commander of the Marseille marine firefighters, said the blaze conditions made the search difficult.
Mathieu said: “We are trying to speed up the search and rescue operations because time is of essence.
“But the search dogs cannot keep up in the heat.”
Benoit Payan, the Marseille mayor, told local media one building had collapsed on Sunday morning.
He said: “It was extremely difficult to control.
“The firefighters are judging minute by minute how best to put out this fire because there are potentially people alive inside.
“At the moment, we are clearing the buildings next door, taking care not to endanger the people who could be beneath the rubble.
“We have to be prepared to have victims in this terrible tragedy.”
In the surrounding buildings, more than 30 residents were “affected”.
All evacuees were moved to schools and nurseries close by.
Christophe Mirmand, the regional prefect, told AFP there were “strong suspicions” that an explosion caused the collapse, possibly from a gas leak.
A food vendor working on the street at the time of structural collapse said “everything shook” during what sounded like an explosion.
The man said: “We saw people running and there was smoke everywhere.”
Another resident, Giles, said the sound of the crash “was huge”.
Giles said: “It sounded like an explosion.”
Authorities reportedly ruled out structural issues in the collapse.
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James Liveris
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