Blast on top floor of building in Presov
A fire burns as a gas explosion severely damaged a 12th storey apartment building in Presov, Slovakia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The firefighters said the explosion occurred between the ninth and 12th storey and witnesses told them several people have escaped to the roof. Authorities didn’t immediately confirm any injuries or fatalities. (AP Photo/Police of Slovakia/HO)
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A gas explosion in an apartment building in eastern Slovakia killed at least five people and injured more than 40 Friday. Firefighters rescued people trapped in the building, which officials said is still in danger of collapse.
The explosion occurred toward the top of the 12-story building in the city of Presov shortly after noon. By late afternoon the entire top half of the building was burning and the top three floors were destroyed, firefighters said.
It was unclear where the rescues took place, but firefighters initially said some people had fled to the roof, and seven military helicopters joined in the rescue.
Firefighters said all people they could find were evacuated. Alena Krcova, a spokeswoman for the rescue services, said more than 40 people were injured, though none was in life threatening condition. She cautioned, however, that the number of dead and injured might not be final.
Mayor Andrea Turcanova said residents have been evacuated to nearby schools.
Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini is heading for the site with some members of his Cabinet.
A fire burns as a gas explosion severely damaged a 12th storey apartment building in Presov, Slovakia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The firefighters said the explosion occurred between the ninth and 12th storey and witnesses told them several people have escaped to the roof. Authorities didn’t immediately confirm any injuries or fatalities. (AP Photo/Police of Slovakia/HO)
Smoke rise from a damaged 12-storey apartment block after a gas explosion in Presov, Slovakia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Officials say a gas explosion in an apartment block in Slovakia has killed at least five people and others are trapped on the roof of the building. Firefighters say the explosion occurred in a 12-story building in the city of Presov shortly after noon on Friday. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP)
Firefighters on a ladder try to extinguish a fire in a 12-storey apartment block after a gas explosion in Presov, Slovakia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Officials say a gas explosion in an apartment block in Slovakia has killed at least five people and others are trapped on the roof of the building. Firefighters say the explosion occurred in a 12-story building in the city of Presov shortly after noon on Friday. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP)
Smoke rise from a damaged 12-storey apartment block after a gas explosion in Presov, Slovakia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Officials say a gas explosion in an apartment block in Slovakia has killed at least five people and others are trapped on the roof of the building. Firefighters say the explosion occurred in a 12-story building in the city of Presov shortly after noon on Friday. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP)
Firefighters on a ladder try to extinguish a fire in a 12-storey apartment block after a gas explosion in Presov, Slovakia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Officials say a gas explosion in an apartment block in Slovakia has killed at least five people and others are trapped on the roof of the building. Firefighters say the explosion occurred in a 12-story building in the city of Presov shortly after noon on Friday. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP)
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