At least three people, including a baby, were killed and 39 injured, several seriously, in the explosion at a bakery in San Cristóbal, in the southern Dominican Republic, authorities announced.
“We have three deaths, 33 people hospitalized in public hospitals and another six in private clinics,” the Dominican Presidency Minister, Joel Santos, told reporters on Monday.
A strong explosion rocked a busy commercial area of San Cristóbal, less than 30 kilometers from the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santo Domingo, at around 3:10 p.m. (8:10 p.m. in Lisbon).
The explosion caused a huge column of smoke and a fire, which spread from the bakery to an adjacent hardware store and a nearby furniture store, causing many people to try to flee in panic, resulting in most of the injuries.
A four-month-old baby died from a “severe head injury” and two adults died with burns to 90% of the body, Mario Lama, director of the country’s National Health Service, said in a statement.
Six of the injured were transferred “to clinics in Santo Domingo for more specific care,” added Joel Santos.
“The fire is under control, but the firefighters are still working in two residences,” added the minister, regarding the explosion, whose shock wave shook nearby structures.
Authorities admitted they expected the death toll to rise as firefighters are unable to enter certain buildings as they continue to fight the flames.
The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, said he was “devastated” by the incident and guaranteed that he had sent a government team to San Cristóbal and that the authorities are supporting the victims and their families.
San Cristóbal, hometown of dictator Rafael Trujillo, who ruled the country from 1930 until he was assassinated in 1961, was the scene of another explosion nearly 23 years ago.
A weapons warehouse exploded in October 2000, killing at least two people, injuring more than 20 and forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of people from the city.
Source: TSF
