Two people are in a serious condition after an explosion in a two-story residential building in Chełmża (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship). The rubble is being searched, most likely no one is left under the rubble. Sixteen fire engines are on the scene.
The explosion took place on Thursday in a two-story single-family building at Wodna Street in Chełmża.
Gas explosion in a residential building in ChełmżaKM PSP Toruń
The duty officer from the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service informed on Thursday evening that two people had been taken to the hospital and the rubble was being searched. Sixteen fire engines are on the scene.
Press officer of KM PSP in Toruń, Capt. Przemysław Baniecki, who is on the spot, reported that part of the building collapsed and the damage is very large. He did not want to prejudge the cause of the explosion, because it will determine the police investigation. The first information, however, spoke of a gas explosion.
Gas explosion in a residential building in ChełmżaEverything in Chełmża
– The second storey of the building collapsed, as did part of the first. According to my findings, eight people lived in this house, but five were outside the building at the time of the incident. Two were evacuated and handed over to EMS [zespoły ratownictwa medycznego – przyp. red.]. They were taken to the hospital, said Capt. Baniecki.
PAP determined that the condition of these people is serious, but they were conscious. One person left the building before firefighters arrived.
– We are awaiting a search and rescue team and dogs used to search the rubble. We cannot rule out 100 percent that there was no one there, but preliminary findings indicate that most likely there were no more people there – added Capt. Baniecki.
Mayor of Chełmża: The damage to the building is huge
The mayor of Chełmża, Jerzy Czerwiński, said that the injured people were taken to hospitals in Chełmża and Toruń.
We all hope that their serious condition will only get better. I am not able to say more about the medical prognosis at this time. This event is our number one topic right now. We took care of the other six people who lived in this building. It will be uninhabitable for a very long time, because the destruction is huge. Today, these people have been offered places in a hotel, and from tomorrow we will organize a place of residence and material assistance for them. This is a priority for us,” the mayor said.
He added that most likely a gas cylinder exploded in the building. It is a brick building that is over a hundred years old.
Main photo source: KM PSP Toruń