BBC reported that five people were injured and eight are unaccounted for after an explosion flattened an apartment building in the southern French city of Marseille.
The cause of the explosion is not yet known. It destroyed the building shortly after midnight on Sunday, and a neighbouring block of flats partly collapsed a few hours later.
Benoit Payan, the city’s mayor, said it was likely that people had died. Almost 200 people were evacuated from nearby buildings.
More than 100 firefighters were sent to tame the flames that followed the blast. The fire burned throughout most of Sunday, and authorities warned the blaze could continue for hours – although on Sunday evening it showed signs of abating. The intense heat and dust has prevented search dogs from picking through the rubble.
Authorities have said a gas leak is likely.
