Blaze kills seven including two children after ‘massive explosion’ in French town

A blaze has killed seven including two children following a ‘massive explosion’ in a town in southern France. 

Police today launched an arson inquiry after the fire broke out in the early hours of this morning in the historic Mediterranean coastal town of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, near Perpignan.

The blast was heard at about 1:30am on the ground floor of a building, and it led to a fire that spread to nearby properties.

Mr Cavaillé also said that an unidentified man aged 27 had been seen jumping out a window of the building, and he was severely injured (pictured, rescue teams reach the upper windows of the building in a bid to find missing residents)

The blast was heard at about 1:30am on the ground floor of a building, (pictured) and it led to a fire that spread to nearby properties

The severity of the incident led to France’s Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, (pictured) travelled to Saint-Laurent de la Salaque, where he gave his ‘full support’ to emergency services

Local prosecutor Jean-David Cavaillé reported seven confirmed dead by early Monday afternoon, including the children, with none of the victims so far identified.

‘A preliminary enquiry for arson causing death has been opened,’ said Mr Cavaillé, who said the initial explosion was thought to have happened in a ground floor sandwich shop.

Mr Cavaillé also said that an unidentified man aged 27 had been seen jumping out a window of the building, and he was severely injured.

Others who suffered wounds were being treated in hospital in Perpignan on Monday, said Mr Cavaillé.

He added that teams of firefighters and gendarmes had cordoned off the scene, and were looking for other survivors.

Police today launched an arson inquiry after the fire broke out in the early hours of this morning in the historic Mediterranean coastal town as rescue teams continued to search for missing residents (pictured) 

Local prosecutor Jean-David Cavaillé said that teams of firefighters and gendarmes had cordoned off the scene, and were looking for other survivors

The blast was heard at about 1:30am on the ground floor of a building, and it led to a fire that spread to nearby properties (pictured, burnt out buildings on the street in Saint Laurent de la Salaque)

The severity of the incident led to France’s Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, travelled to Saint-Laurent.

Mr Darmanin said in a statement on Twitter that he sent his ‘thoughts to the victims and their loved ones’ as he put his ‘full support’ behind rescue and emergency services.  

French politician Olivier Dussopt said: ‘Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. The state is on their side.’ 

A local police spokesman said: ‘As well as the shop, around 11 flats were affected by the blast, and a number of floors collapsed.

‘Gas cylinders were found near the building where the blast happened, and it needs to be established if these were used to start the explosion.’

The spokesman said that a psychological aid unit had been set up to support relatives and neighbors evacuated in the middle of the night.

‘Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,’ said the spokesman. ‘We will mobilise to help them as best we can in these most tragic circumstances.’ 

Local prosecutor Jean-David Cavaillé reported seven confirmed dead by early Monday afternoon, including the children, with none of the victims so far identified (pictured, rescue teams search the rubble for missing residents)

The spokesman said that a psychological aid unit had been set up to support relatives and neighbors evacuated in the middle of the night (pictured, firefighters and rescue crews on site)