A powerful gas tank truck explosion shattered a maternity and children’s hospital in Mexico City on Thursday, killing at least three people and injuring dozens.
Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told MVS radio that the body of a woman was found inside the hospital and many people were injured by flying glass. He earlier told the Televisa network that at least 54 people were injured, 22 of them children. Most of the injuries were relatively minor, he said.
Fausto Lugo, the city’s civil defense director, said in a television interview that the death toll had risen to two. He said 37 people were transported to other hospitals and he said other people were likely still buried in the rubble.
The explosion sent a column of smoke billowing over the area on the western edge of Mexico’s capital and television images showed much of the structure collapsed, with firefighters trying to extinguish fires. Mancera said the heaviest damage was near the hospital’s loading dock.
Borough chief Adrian Rubalcava said the injured were being taken to a nearby hospital, but the area had insufficient ambulances.
Rubalcava said, “the most worrisome is the collapse of a large part of the hospital.”
***UPDATES***
Death toll has climbed to seven – January 29 – 12:24 PM
