Five injured in gas explosion in Belgium's Antwerp

January 16, 2018 | 09:19

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BRUSSELS, Belgium: At least five people were injured, including two seriously, when a gas explosion caused a building to collapse in Belgium's port city of Antwerp, police and media said.

Firefighters rescue a man following the collapse of a building at the Paardenmarkt in Antwerp, after an explosion. (DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP)

Police said emergency services were in contact with three people who are conscious under the debris in addition to the five people who were hurt.

They added that up to 20 people could have been injured.

Police said the cause of the explosion was not related to terrorism while Belgian media said it was the result of a gas explosion.

The Paardenmarkt area in central Antwerp was completely closed off as emergency personnel continued rescue and other operations, police said in a statement.

Two other buildings were damaged in the explosion, police said.

AFP

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