Explosion in a 3-storey building in Ankara: 2 people lose their lives

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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An explosion occurred in a 3-storey building in Keçiören district in Turkey's capital city of Ankara at night (November 19).

The blast has caused the building to partially collapse.

While two people have lost their lives in the incident, four people have been wounded, three of them are reportedly in a critical condition.

According to the first statement made by the authorities, the explosion was caused by a gas entrapment.

However, the journalists reporting from the scene of the incident have noted that it was also possible that the blast occurred because of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), which is forbidden to use inside the building.

Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin went to the scene of the blast at night and said that the incident was considered to be caused by a gas entrapment. He noted that six wounded people were hospitalized and one father and his child have unfortunately lost their lives.

"There are two losses of life from the Iraqi Turkmen family. Four wounded people are still in treatment," the Governor informed the public, briefly adding: "The search and rescue efforts and the technical examinations are still ongoing in the debris. The debris is being meticulously examined. There is both a natural gas and an LPG system in the building."

Investigation launched into incident

There were 11 flats in the 3-storey building. However, as the building was about to undergo urban transformation, only three flats were occupied.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the incident. (TP/SD)