At least three people died and several were injured after a gas explosion destroyed a parish building in central Madrid, raining masonry down the street.
Initial investigations suggested that the explosion, which occurred just before 3 pm on Wednesday, occurred during a boiler repair.
The building, on Calle Toledo near Plaza Mayor, belongs to the parish church of La Virgen de la Paloma and contains accommodation for priests and meeting rooms.
Residents of a nursing home next door were evacuated unharmed, while staff and children at the parish school on the other side of the building also escaped unharmed.
José Manuel Franco, a central government delegate in the Madrid region, confirmed the cause and the death toll on Spanish TV late Wednesday afternoon.
“I can confirm that it was a gas explosion that happened during a boiler repair,” he told RTVE. “Three people died and one person is missing.”
Madrid emergency services said six people had minor injuries, one had moderate injuries and one person with multiple injuries was in serious condition at the hospital.
The city’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, said firefighters were inspecting the damaged building to determine whether the explosion damaged the neighboring asylum.
The school issued a statement confirming that no one had been injured and that “all children and staff are well.”
Leire Reparaz, a local resident, told the Associated Press that she heard a loud explosion just before 3 pm as she headed for her home near Puerta de Toledo.
“We didn’t know where the sound came from,” she said. “We all thought it was from school. We went up the stairs to the top of our building and we could see the structure of the building and a lot of gray smoke. “
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, tweeted his condolences, writing: “We regret with sadness some deaths following the explosion in Toledo Street. I just spoke with the Mayor of Madrid, @AlmeidaPP_, to express my support and solidarity. All our love and condolences to the families of the dead and wounded. “
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