Share
Copied
Rubbles are seen where a building collapsed in Marseille, southern France, April 9, 2023. /CFP
An apartment building collapsed on Saturday night in the southern French city of Marseille, injuring at least six people as rescue operations continued into Sunday.
Five people were taken to hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries and a sixth person was being treated for shock, said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin who visited the city on Sunday.
The cause of the accident is not yet known, but local officials hinted at explosion.
"There are strong suspicions that an explosion caused the collapse, but we must remain very cautious about the causes at this stage," said Christophe Mirmand, prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of which Marseille is the capital, adding that gas could be "a possible option."
Rescue services have so far evacuated at least 80 people and authorities estimated that as many as 10 people were thought to be under the rubble.
Rescue efforts were complicated due to factors including an ensuing fire that Darmanin said could take hours to put out.
Two adjoining buildings have also collapsed including one partially, according to local media.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said his thoughts are with the people affected and their families, adding resources are being mobilized for search and rescue efforts.
(With input from agencies)
Search Trends
SITEMAP
Copyright © 2023 CGTN. 京ICP备16065310号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
SITEMAP
Copyright © 2023 CGTN. 京ICP备16065310号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466