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Death toll rises to 3 in explosion at Mexican children’s hospital

2 babies and a middle-aged woman are among the dead

30.01.2015 - Update : 30.01.2015
Death toll rises to 3 in explosion at Mexican children’s hospital

By Nancy Caouette

MEXICO CITY

Authorities on Thursday night said a newborn, 6-month old and a middle-aged woman were killed in a gas explosion at a children’s hospital in Mexico City earlier in the day.

A baby girl who was rescued from the rubble about three hours after the blast later died at a nearby hospital, according Armando Ahued, Federal District health secretary.

In a press conference Thursday night, Ahued said there were 73 injuries, with seven adults and nine children seriously hurt.

Reports of several babies being rescued from the rubble could not be independently confirmed by The Anadolu Agency.

President Enrique Pena Nieto took to Twitter to express his condolences. "My sadness and solidarity to all the injured and to all relatives of persons who died this morning in the Children hospital of Cuajimalpa,” he said on the social network. 

Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said about 70 percent of the hospital collapsed from the explosion and nearby buildings were evacuated, including a school.

Approximately 40 soldiers have been deployed to search and rescue victims as a number of high-ranking Mexican officials visited the blast site.

The mayor made an appeal for help from area hospitals as health facilities in the city took to social media to solicit large numbers of blood donors. 

Most of victims were “injured by shards of glass” while others suffered panic attacks, the mayor said.

The explosion occurred as the fire department worked to control a gas leak that was reported by a company refueling the hospital's gas tank.

Three gas company workers badly burned during the explosion will be questioned by authorities after doctors declare them well enough to speak.

Authorities want to know why the hospital’s main gas valve was not shut off during the refueling, said Rios Garza, head of the investigation.

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