Blast at apartment building in Romania’s capital kills 3 and injures at least 13

BUCHAREST, Romania — BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — An explosion of immense power ripped through two floors of an apartment building in Romania’s capital on Friday, tragically claiming the lives of three individuals and leaving at least 13 others injured, as confirmed by authorities.

The devastating impact of the explosion was concentrated on the fifth and sixth floors of the eight-story building, as detailed by the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in the capital. A fleet of over a dozen emergency vehicles, comprising 11 fire engines and four mobile intensive care units, rushed to the location of the incident on Calea Rahovei in Bucharest’s Sector 5.

While the exact cause of the fatal explosion remains unknown, authorities took precautionary measures by shutting off the gas supply in the vicinity.

In light of the tragic event, Romania’s Ministry of Health disclosed that victims suffered from polytrauma and burns.

Subsequent reports from the ministry indicated the discovery of a deceased individual beneath a concrete slab on the building’s sixth floor. Furthermore, at least 13 individuals were swiftly transported to hospitals within the capital.

Following the evacuation of all residents from the premises, rescue teams diligently combed through the area in search of any potential survivors. As a precautionary measure, students and educators at a nearby school were also evacuated, as confirmed by Bucharest’s School Inspectorate.

Footage shared by emergency services vividly portrayed the severe damage inflicted on the corner apartments of two stories, with shattered windows and debris strewn across the street below.

“In the aftermath of the explosion, an adjacent apartment block also bore the brunt of the impact, displaying detached construction elements from its facade,” as stated by emergency authorities.