5 Killed, 25 Injured as Explosion Rocks Residential Building in Germany

Ololade Adeyanju/

At least five people were injured when an explosion, followed by a fire, tore through an apartment building in Germany.

Early reports say no fewer than 25 persons were also seriously injured in the blast.

Police have not determined the cause of the explosion which occurred on Saturday night but said several people were hospitalised after the incident in the western city of Wuppertal.

A CNN report quoted a police statement saying it could not be ruled out that there were other people in the building, adding that search activities were continuing.

NewsmakersNG learnt that an initial investigation showed the explosion ripped through the building, completely destroying it.

Large parts of the multistory residential building subsequently collapsed on the street and a fire broke out inside in several places, reports said.

Surrounding buildings were also destroyed by the impact of the blast.

Reports said rescuers worked through the night but their efforts were complicated by the building’s instability.

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