At least 77 injured as gas explosion rips through cafe near Malaga, Spain (PHOTOS)
Scores of people have been reported injured and at least five seriously hurt in a gas cylinder explosion near the southern Spanish city of Malaga.
77 people have been injured in the explosion, according to a spokesman for the Andalucia region's emergency unit, as reported by Reuters. Earlier reports put the number of those injured at around 50.
The blast occurred at a cafe in Velez-Malaga. Five people are being treated for serious injuries while dozens of others are being treated for cuts.
More than fifty people were transferred to the Regional Hospital of Axarquia for emergency treatment, while dozens others were tended to at a nearby health center, according to Cadena SER.
Bomberos @cpbmalaga interviniendo en #VelezMalaga tras la explosión de una bombona en una cafetería pic.twitter.com/qkebkrgrhe
— InfoEmergencias (@InfoEmerg) October 1, 2016
Más de 50 heridos tras una explosión por escape de gas en una cafetería en Málaga https://t.co/FJafTciKfu
— Frases&Reflexiones;♥ (@Frasesyrefle_) October 1, 2016
🔴🇪🇸DERNIÈRE MINUTE - Explosion dans un bar pendant une feria à Vélez-Málaga au sud de l'Espagne. Plusieurs blessés. (🎥@lolohirschfeld) pic.twitter.com/y3qDOOyO2X
— Anthony Gonzalez (@AnthoGonzalez56) October 1, 2016
Varios heridos en la feria de Vélez Málaga por una explosión en una cocina https://t.co/IeoMpM0Iocpic.twitter.com/6yv6cGvi8e
— Onda Cero (@ondacero) October 1, 2016
Nuestro equipo de #emergencias interviene atendiendo a varias personas heridas en explosión en #VélezMálagapic.twitter.com/OjVuTOdwcr
— Cruz Roja Málaga (@CREMalaga) October 1, 2016
Explosión en la cocina del bar la bohemia, en Vélez-Málaga pic.twitter.com/81q2HiiztZ
— migui lito (@miguilito) October 1, 2016
Velez-Málaga: En la zona de explosión, numeroso público porque están celebrando su Feria @lolohirschfeldpic.twitter.com/7KLn58Cu51
— InfoEmergencias (@InfoEmerg) October 1, 2016
Mayor of the town, Antonio Moreno Ferrer, said it’s believed the explosion was caused by a gas leak.
A chef raised the alarm just moments before the blast occurred, according to La Opinion de Malaga.
The mayor said without the cook's intervention more serious injuries could have occurred.
Police helped with transferring those hurt to the hospital as ambulance services were overwhelmed by the high number of casualties.
Se eleva a 74 los heridos por la explosión de una bombona en un bar del centro de Vélez, 32 dados de altahttps://t.co/x9whKYhxjipic.twitter.com/xTRTW7m5CR
— SER Málaga (@SER_Malaga) October 1, 2016
Más de 50 heridos tras una explosión por escape de gas en una cafetería de Vélez https://t.co/b3Rg3vXZAe
— Frases empresa (@Frasesempresa) October 1, 2016
A festival was taking place in the town just a few meters from the restaurant at the time of the explosion, local media said.
READ MORE: At least 21 injured in explosion in French city of Dijon – reports
