Prime minister visits gas explosion site

PM Donald Tusk in Janków Przygodzki Friday morning after a gas explosion ripped through the village: photo - PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

"We need to start by expressing sympathy and condolences to the families," Prime Minister Tusk told journalists after talking with emergency service staff in Janków Przygodzki, a village with a population of just over 1,000 in the Wielkopolska province, where a gas pipeline exploded and ignited surrounding buildings on Thursday.

"We currently have two fatalities with seven people still in hospital," Tusk said at the site early on Friday morning where he praised emergency workers.

"Both fire service and paramedics were up to the task".

Fire fighters were still working to put out the blaze at 08.00 CET Friday morning: photo - PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Asked about the cause of the huge blast at around 12.00 CET on Thursday, that engulfed parts of the village and set surrounding woodland on fire, the prime minister said that "it appears that the explosion and fire were the result of construction work. But we have to be careful here and leave this to the prosecutors."

A two-year old child who was injured in the blast is said to be "stable" in hospital.

Fire at the door

A woman who was taken to hospital in Ostrow Wielkopolski after suffering burns and smoke-related injuries, told the TVP television channel: "There were three of us at home: my daughter, granddaughter and myself. We heard an explosion and my daughter cried - Mum, run! Fire is already at the door! But we could not open the door and climbed out a window".

"I ran with the baby [her granddaughter] in my arms. We ran through the fields, away from the fire," the unnamed woman said.

Explosion sets fire to homes and woodland: photo - PAP/Tomasz Wojtasik

Local authorities will be issuing grants to families whose property was damaged in the blaze.

Prosecutors are at the scene of the explosion to ascertain the causes of the blast and fires. (pg)