Colombia: an explosion due to a gas leak leaves two dead and fifteen injured | Pereira | Risaralda | latest | WORLD

At least two dead and fifteen injured left an explosion caused by a leak of propane gas stored in a vehicle in Pereiracapital of the department of Risaralda (Colombia), which also caused damage to multiple homes.

The explosion and fire occurred early this Tuesday in a residential area of ​​the River Avenue, in the north of the city, by the “inappropriate manipulation” of two propane gas tanks that were inside a vehicle, causing a leak.

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“By improper manipulation “One of the valves bursts and generates the escape of this gas (…) which, when any area of ​​heat was found, immediately generated the explosion.”detailed the director of the Pereira fire departmentJuan Camilo Ballesteros Sánchez.

Behind the popemergency services and local authorities evacuated the area, where 19 homes were affectedseven of them completely destroyed, and fourteen familiesincluding ten minors.

The explosion left fifteen injured, three of them with serious burns, who were transferred to medical centers.

The mayor of Pereira, Mauricio Salazarrequested the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate “so that the circumstances that gave rise to the situation can be determined” after visiting the site of the explosion.