Authorities say a strong explosion rocked a preferred market space in a city close to the capital of the Dominican Republic, killing at the least two individuals and injuring greater than two dozen others
ByMARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA and DÁNICA COTO Related Press
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A strong explosion rocked a preferred market space in a city close to the capital of the Dominican Republic on Monday, killing at the least two individuals and injuring greater than two dozen others, authorities mentioned.
The explosion occurred at a bakery within the city of San Cristobal, which lies simply west of Santo Domingo. Officers mentioned the hearth then unfold to a ironmongery store positioned subsequent door and a close-by furnishings retailer. It wasn’t instantly clear what triggered the explosion.
Charred vehicles and particles from a number of collapsed buildings lined the streets as thick black smoke rose from the city’s heart and prompted a number of companies to evacuate whereas crowds gathered to movie the incident.
The explosion occurred in an space referred to as “Outdated Market,” the place throngs of individuals store day by day for items starting from fruits to garments.
The nation’s 911 system mentioned at the least two individuals died. In the meantime, Pura Casilla, the governor of San Cristobal province, instructed Noticias SIN that at the least 28 others have been injured. She instructed the native TV station that the explosion occurred in a business space and vastly affected companies close to town heart.
Firefighters have been nonetheless battling the blaze early Monday night as authorities ordered individuals to clear the world, warning that different buildings might collapse.
Authorities officers arrived on scene, together with legislator Franklin Rodríguez, who instructed native media he was anxious about individuals’s well being and security given the heavy smoke nonetheless streaming from a number of buildings.
“These buildings are very weak,” he mentioned.
He added that toll roads resulting in San Cristobal have been suspended to permit a higher variety of ambulances into the world, with dozens of individuals dashing to close by hospitals and clinics to seek for family members. Some cried outdoors the principle hospital as others hugged them for consolation.
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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.