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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Marseille building collapse: Survivors search continues | Marseille building collapse: Survivors search continues |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The heat and rubble has hindered the search for survivors | The heat and rubble has hindered the search for survivors |
| Six bodies have been found after an explosion flattened a four-storey apartment building in the southern French city of Marseille. | Six bodies have been found after an explosion flattened a four-storey apartment building in the southern French city of Marseille. |
| Officials said two others remained unaccounted for and rescue efforts continued in the La Plaine district. | Officials said two others remained unaccounted for and rescue efforts continued in the La Plaine district. |
| A firefighter told AFP news agency the search for survivors was a "race against the clock". | A firefighter told AFP news agency the search for survivors was a "race against the clock". |
| The cause remains unclear, but investigators are looking into the possibility of a gas leak. | The cause remains unclear, but investigators are looking into the possibility of a gas leak. |
| The blast occurred at 00:49 local time on Sunday (22:49 GMT on Saturday). | |
| Housing Minister Oliver Klein described the discovery of the bodies as "gruesome, difficult and dramatic", and told reporters the government would support the families of the victims. | Housing Minister Oliver Klein described the discovery of the bodies as "gruesome, difficult and dramatic", and told reporters the government would support the families of the victims. |
| Five people from neighbouring buildings sustained minor injuries in the explosion and around 200 people had to be evacuated from their homes. | Five people from neighbouring buildings sustained minor injuries in the explosion and around 200 people had to be evacuated from their homes. |
| Two nearby blocks partially collapsed a few hours later, but there were no further reports of injuries from this. | Two nearby blocks partially collapsed a few hours later, but there were no further reports of injuries from this. |
| The mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, warned there was still a risk that nearby buildings could collapse. | The mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, warned there was still a risk that nearby buildings could collapse. |
| Around 100 firefighters attended the scene to tackle a blaze that burned under the rubble throughout Sunday. | Around 100 firefighters attended the scene to tackle a blaze that burned under the rubble throughout Sunday. |
| The fire hampered progress and made it difficult for sniffer dogs to detect survivors or bodies. | The fire hampered progress and made it difficult for sniffer dogs to detect survivors or bodies. |
| The building is believed to have had one apartment on each storey. | The building is believed to have had one apartment on each storey. |
| In a brief statement announcing the discovery of the bodies, the fire department said that "given the difficulties of intervention, the extraction [of the bodies from the site] will take time". | In a brief statement announcing the discovery of the bodies, the fire department said that "given the difficulties of intervention, the extraction [of the bodies from the site] will take time". |
| A local gymnasium and two schools have been opened to accommodate the people who have had to leave their homes. Psychological support is also being offered. | A local gymnasium and two schools have been opened to accommodate the people who have had to leave their homes. Psychological support is also being offered. |
| French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that he was "thinking of those affected and their loved ones" and thanked the emergency workers for their efforts. | French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that he was "thinking of those affected and their loved ones" and thanked the emergency workers for their efforts. |
| Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan said rescuers remained "determined" to find people alive. "Hope must hold us," he said. | Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan said rescuers remained "determined" to find people alive. "Hope must hold us," he said. |
| 'Unlike anything I've ever heard' | 'Unlike anything I've ever heard' |
| One local told French media that they heard an explosion "unlike anything I've ever heard". | One local told French media that they heard an explosion "unlike anything I've ever heard". |
| Speaking to AFP, Saveria Mosnier, who lives nearby, said on Sunday: "I was sleeping and there was this huge blast that really shook the room. I was shocked awake as if I had been dreaming." | Speaking to AFP, Saveria Mosnier, who lives nearby, said on Sunday: "I was sleeping and there was this huge blast that really shook the room. I was shocked awake as if I had been dreaming." |
| She added: "We very quickly smelled a strong gas odour that hung around. We could still smell it this morning." | She added: "We very quickly smelled a strong gas odour that hung around. We could still smell it this morning." |
| Deputy Mayor Yannick Ohanessian told reporters at the scene that "several" witnesses had described a "suspicious smell of gas". | Deputy Mayor Yannick Ohanessian told reporters at the scene that "several" witnesses had described a "suspicious smell of gas". |
| Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited the scene on Sunday, followed by Housing Minister Olivier Klein on Monday. | Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited the scene on Sunday, followed by Housing Minister Olivier Klein on Monday. |
| In 2018, housing standards in Marseille came under scrutiny after two dilapidated buildings in the working class district of Noailles collapsed, killing eight people. | In 2018, housing standards in Marseille came under scrutiny after two dilapidated buildings in the working class district of Noailles collapsed, killing eight people. |
| Following that incident, charities estimated that 40,000 people in the city were living in poorly-built homes, but on Sunday officials appeared to rule out structural issues as a cause of the latest collapse. | Following that incident, charities estimated that 40,000 people in the city were living in poorly-built homes, but on Sunday officials appeared to rule out structural issues as a cause of the latest collapse. |
| Christophe Mirmand, a local authority leader in the Bouches-du-Rhone region, said there was no danger notice on the building and that it was not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing. The comments were echoed by Mr Payan. | Christophe Mirmand, a local authority leader in the Bouches-du-Rhone region, said there was no danger notice on the building and that it was not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing. The comments were echoed by Mr Payan. |
| Additional reporting by Antoinette Radford and Alys Davies. | Additional reporting by Antoinette Radford and Alys Davies. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| France | France |
| Marseille | Marseille |
| Emmanuel Macron | Emmanuel Macron |