Blast in building kills 6 people, injures 58 in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Agentina — At least six people died and 58 were injured Tuesday in a powerful blast that shook a residential building in the Argentine city of Rosario, authorities said.

Miguel Cappiello, health minister for the Argentine province of Santa Fe, where Rosario is located, confirmed the death toll even as rescue teams continued to look for people trapped in the rubble. Rosario Health Secretary Leonardo Caruana said three of the injured were in serious condition

The blast was believed to have been caused by a gas leak and very seriously damaged the 10-floor building. The explosion broke windows and dealt other damage to nearby buildings.

The fire department took several hours to put out the fire. In a series of spectacular rescues, isolated survivors were reached with ropes and ladders.

Residents told reporters that there had been gas leaks in the building for days.

Rescue teams cordoned off the area for fear that the building would collapse, while 11 schools in the neighborhood were evacuated as a precautionary measure.