Around 40 people were injured, most of them slightly, in an explosion followed by a fire in a residential building in the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava on Wednesday, reported Xinhua, quoting local media.
Most of the injured suffered minor wounds and were treated at the scene. However, eight people were transported to the hospital, according to the Czech News Agency.
The incident occurred around noon on the seventh floor of the residential building in Ostrava-Dubina. According to the local fire and rescue service, the fire was preceded by an explosion that blew out windows and doors. Five firefighting units responded to the emergency and managed to extinguish the fire.
Together with police, firefighters evacuated residents from the building. Later in the afternoon, the fire and rescue service stated on social platform X that some residents had returned to unaffected apartments, while alternative accommodation would be arranged by the local city hall.
Police suspect the fire may have been triggered by the explosion of an electric scooter battery.
"The police are continuing to investigate the fire in close cooperation with the fire brigade. Detectives have initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of endangering public safety by negligence," the Czech News Agency reported, citing a police source.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
