Gas explosion kills at least 17 in Algeria
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-27 09:53

A gas explosion Sunday killed 17 people and injured at least 40 others when a residential block collapsed in eastern Algeria, local authorities said.

The blast early Sunday was caused by a gas leak and destroyed a five-story building on the outskirts of the city of Guelma, some 340 miles east of the capital, Algiers.

"It's a big disaster. So far we have 17 people dead and the death toll could increase because a lot of individuals are in the hospital right now," local resident Aissani Makhlous said.

Rescuers were still carrying out search operations and civil protection officials had also gone to the scene of the blast.

"Civil protection workers are still searching for possible victims believed to be under the rubble, including children," a local journalist said.

Algeria, a member of the OPEC oil producing cartel, is a major crude oil and natural gas exporter.

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