8 people injured in Czech residential building blast

16/12/2024 6:07

An explosion in a residential building in the southern Czech town of Znojmo on Sunday afternoon left eight people injured, local rescuers reported.

"We rescued a total of eight people from the building... They were treated and transported to hospitals by emergency services," the Fire Rescue Service of the South Moravian Region stated on the social media platform X.

Among the injured, one person sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter for urgent medical attention.

The explosion occurred in a building containing nine residential units, causing extensive damage. According to the Czech News Agency, the blast led to the collapse of the front wall from the first floor down to the sidewalk, while the roof and attic were also severely damaged.

Authorities anticipate that the building will require at least partial demolition. In response, the town hall has stepped in to provide emergency accommodation for displaced residents.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a gas leak is the likely cause of the explosion.