Paris building collapse leaves two dead

Four-story apartment building in suburb of French capital partially collapses after apparent gas-leak explosion.

Emergency teams were working hard to locate people that may be still alive [Reuters]

A four-story apartment building in a northeastern Paris suburb has partially collapsed after an explosion, killing a child and an elderly person, authorities said.

Six more people were thought to be underneath the rubble after Sunday’s accident.

Speaking on i-Tele, fire department spokesman Gabriel Plus said around 10 people were rescued from the disaster in Rosny-sous-Bois.

Plus said emergency teams were working hard to locate people that may be still alive, using sniffer dogs in the search.

“We could still find living victims in the hours to come,” he said.

Philippe Galli, Seine-Saint-Denis prefect, said the explosion was “most probably” the result of a gas leak.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve arrived at the scene and pledged his support to the families and victims.

He said the 22 people from the remaining two thirds of the building had been given alternative lodging, since the entire structure is perilous.

Speaking from La Rochelle on Sunday at a socialist party conference, Prime Minister Manuel Valls began his speech by sending out a “message of solidarity” to the victims.

Source: AP