MARSEILLE: Rescue workers on Monday recovered another two bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in France’s Marseille, bringing the confirmed death toll to five, with another three people still missing.

More than 24 hours after an explosion at the building, where residents repor­ted a strong smell of gas, dozens of civil defence staff and sniffer dogs were working through the de­bris, where a fire still smouldered.

Housing Minister Olivier Klein said at the scene earlier on Monday that four bodies had been found. But a few hours later, the emergency services announced that rescue workers had found the body of a fifth victim.

The deputy mayor of the Mediterranean port city, Yannick Ohanessian, had said rescue workers still hoped to find survivors.

The fire under the rubble has made it hard for the dogs to detect more victims or survivors.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2023