Emergency personnel attend the scene of an incident in Leicester, central England, Sunday Feb. 25, 2018. Four people were hospitalized in critical condition following an explosion that left a building in the English city of Leicester in flames Sunday, local emergency agencies said. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Republished February 26, 2018 - 7:16 AM
Original Publication Date February 26, 2018 - 1:06 AM
LONDON - Five people have died of injuries from an explosion that caused the collapse of a building in the central England city of Leicester, police said Monday.
A search and rescue operation continued for other possible victims of the Sunday night explosion that injured five more people, officials said.
Leicestershire Police Superintendent Shane O'Neill said the building where the explosion happened consisted of a shop and a two-story apartment above it.
The building collapsed after the explosion and was engulfed in flames. Police declared a major incident and evacuated neighbours as a precaution.
The cause has not yet been established. Police said they did not think terrorism was involved.
Matt Cane from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said there were still "pockets of fire" in the basement of the building Monday.
"We have a significant number of specialist search and rescue teams who are supported by two search dogs," Cane said. "It may be some days yet before we will be able to establish the probable cause of the explosion."
Leicester is 110 miles (180 kilometres) north of London.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018