Marseille: Two bodies have been found in the rubble of a building that collapsed in Marseille following a massive explosion, French authorities said on Monday. Dozens of firefighters are still battling the blaze. More than 24 hours after the four-storey building collapsed in the blast, search operations have been hampered after residents reported a strong smell of gas.
However, the mayor of the Mediterranean port city said rescuers had not given up hope of finding survivors. There is still hope and we will not stop searching as long as there is hope,” said Mayor Benoy Payan who arrived at the disaster site.
He said emergency workers were conducting a surgical operation at the site to save potential survivors at all costs.
The fire at the site made it difficult for sniffer dogs to find more victims or survivors. “It will take time to extract the bodies from the site given the particular difficulties of the intervention,” the fire service said in a brief statement announcing the bodies.