A strong explosion in a building located in an exclusive area of the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo It left injured, several flats destroyed and collateral effects in neighboring establishments.
The incident occurred minutes following 9 this Friday in a building located in Leyenda Patria at 2900, in front of the Villa Biarritz park, in Punta Carretas.
So far reported seven wounded. Three of them were referred to the British Hospital in serious condition. One of the people has compromised respiratory tract due to carbon monoxide poisoning, while the rest suffered body burns.
Five other elderly people were treated at the scene. “All the people who had to be assisted already were, and those who had to be hospitalized as well,” explained José Antonio Rodríguez, director of the Emergency Medical Care System (SAME).
As he specified, more than 40 people worked with four mobile phones plus the coordination teams.
The police and fire personnel evacuated the people who were in the place, mainly between the third and fourth floor where there was also a fire.
The explosion was of such magnitude that remains of the debris were thrown into the air and reached the park. In addition, the explosion broke glass for several blocks around.
The causes of the incident are being investigated. A neighbor of the building told the press that it was a “gas leakage” and that a few days ago he felt a “strange smell”.
Luis Alberto Heber, Minister of the Interior, was present at the scene and stated that he met “a disaster”.
Although there is significant structural damage, the authorities ruled out a possible collapse. In addition, they asked the population not to approach the area because there were still blunt objects that might be dangerous.
“On the outskirts on the other block there is broken glass, so this primary zone is the red work zone. We recommend people not to circulate,” warned the director of SAME.
The continuous buildings also showed impact on their façade. In social networks, neighbors and witnesses published images of the significant damage.
“I don’t know what happened, everything exploded,” warns a young man from inside the complex while filming how his house turned out. “It started everything,” exclaims the victim who suffered cuts on one of his hands.
In another dramatic video shot from the street, he appears on the second floor a woman with a baby in her arms at the edge of a balcony without a railing as a result of the ferocious destruction.
A woman with a baby in her arms on the second floor. Photo: Capture
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