Explosion hits building in the center of Madrid and leaves at least 3 dead | World

Spanish public broadcaster TVE said that one of the victims of the explosion was an 85-year-old woman. A Madrid government spokesperson confirmed that one of the dead was not a resident of the building and passed through the street at the time of the explosion.

At least four floors of the building that sits atop a church on Rua de Toledo were attacked around 3 pm (local time, 11 am Brasilia), according to the Madrid emergency service. There is a risk that the structure of the building has been affected.

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, said that the explosion may be related to a gas leak. At the time of the accident, a water heating system was installed, according to the Spanish government.

A fire department team tries control a fire within the area reached.

The sniffer dogs were brought to the site to search for people under the rubble. At least one person is missing.

The vicar general of Madrid, Avelino Revilla, explained that the six-story building was property of the church of the virgin of paloma, which is located on the ground floor.

The building is divided between church halls and rental apartments. A group of priests who lived there were taken to the hospital, Revilla said.

Television images showed a team from the Madrid emergency service treating victims on the sidewalk. A The nursing home near the site was evacuated.. Bars, restaurants and hotels in the region welcomed the residents of the asylum.

Part of The wall of the building fell onto a schoolyard. which it is next. There were no activities in the outside area at the time of the incident.

Rua de Toledo is near the monument of the Arch of Toledo, tourist spot of the Spanish capital. In addition to the residential buildings, the area has several bars and restaurants.