Germany apartment explosion injures 25, destroys building

Police are investigating the cause of an explosion that destroyed an apartment building in the western German city of Wuppertal, leaving 25 people injured, four of them severely.

The explosion rocked the several-story building shortly before midnight on Saturday (local time) with a large bang, scaring people in surrounding homes so much they ran out into the street in a panic, police said.

The detonation was so severe it destroyed the building's attic and the top three floors, the German news agency DPA reported.

Fire then broke out in several different parts of the apartment building and firefighters had trouble dousing the flames as parts of the building kept collapsing.

Firefighters were able to rescue four severely injured people from inside the building and transport them to hospital.

Another 21 people were slightly injured and treated by emergency staff at the scene.

Police said on Sunday they were investigating the cause of the explosion.

They would not comment when asked if the explosion could possibly be terror-related.

A car nearby was destroyed, buried under window frames that were blown onto it by the impact of the explosion.

Emergency personnel picked up bricks and furniture on the street and police scoured accessible parts of the building for people trapped inside before giving the all-clear.

Later on Sunday, authorities brought in heavy equipment to tear down the remains of the ruin.

They said it was too dangerous for investigators to search for evidence that might reveal the explosion's cause because the destroyed building could collapse at any time.

Reuters