National
24 seriously hurt in Barcelona gas explosion
By h.b.
Dec 3, 2008 - 12:40 PM

28 people have been injured, 24 of them seriously, in a gas explosion in residential block of homes in Gavà, 20kms from Barcelona. The lives of 18 of those injured are said to be threatened.

There are six children among those hurt, two of them reported to be seriously hurt in the burns unit of the Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona.

13 of those seriously hurt are said to have burns to more than 50% of their bodies. Most of those hurt are reported to be suffering from burns. Some have been taken to other hospitals in Bellvitge and Viladecans.

The four façades of the building were brought down by the blast. The fire service got the emergency call at 3.06am this morning, and it appears that fire took hold after the blast, affecting mainly the lower floors of the three story building in Calle Viçenc Bou.

50 local residents have been evacuated as a precaution.