Four people were killed in a gas explosion that destroyed two apartment blocks in northern Belgium on New Year’s Eve, the local mayor told AFP on Saturday.
He said he could not give the identities, genders or ages of the victims because the police kept contacting the closest relatives, but added that they were all adults.
The explosion occurred early Friday morning, blasting a hole in a four-story block containing 16 apartments and smashing windows in another nearby.
“It must have been a massive gas bubble,” Van Miert said, adding that forensic experts would inspect the debris and heating systems starting Sunday to determine the exact cause.
Police, firefighters and civilian emergency rescue teams did “a very difficult job” to recover the survivors and bodies, the mayor said.
King Philippe of Belgium telephoned Van Miert early Saturday to express his condolences.
Interior Minister Anneliese Verlinden would arrive in Turnhout later Saturday to inspect the site and congratulate emergency workers.
Van Miert said the building where the blast occurred would likely have to be demolished, but the other one that was damaged had stabilized and was still habitable.
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