One person was killed and more than two dozen others were injured after an explosion rocked the Spanish capital Madrid, according to the city’s emergency service office.
The explosion occured on Saturday afternoon and rescue workers retrieved the body of a 52-year-old man on Sunday morning. He was buried under metres of rubble as they conducted search and rescue operations at the site with sniffer dogs.
Lead firefighter Javier Romero said that his team have also pulled out four people from underneath the rubble since responding to the incident. The victims were stuck on the ground floor of a three-story building.
Romero also added that a nearby store, café and other private properties were damaged by the blast.
Officials say the blast was likely caused by a gas leak. Spanish news agency EFE reported that firefighters and other local agencies are still investigating the cause of the explosion.
According to the City Council’s fire chief, Carlos Marín, the building – constructed primarily with concrete and steel – is showing signs of severe deterioration in an area roughly between 50 and 60 square metres in size.
Marín added that technicians have been tasked with assessing the damage to the building to evaluate its structural integrity, and determine whether or not it should be demolished as a matter of public safety.
Meanwhile, residents of nine nearby residences above the premises have been temporarily relocated, according to Madrid Deputy Mayor Inma Sanz.
Sanz says those evacuated will remain outside their homes “at least for a few days” due to the serious damage detected in the building’s foundation between the ground and first floors.