Huge blast shakes apartment building in Istanbul

An explosion tore through a five-story residential apartment block in the Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul on Saturday.

According to an initial report, at least four people were injured in the suspected gas explosion, which hit a packaging store at the bottom of a residential building.

Istanbul's Governor Avni Mutlu said that the explosion was not caused by terrorists, but by a compressed gas tube.

One of the injured is an eight-month pregnant woman who jumped from the balcony of an upper floor and was caught with a blanket. She was reported as being in critical condition.

Witnesses said that the blast was so powerful that cars were turned over. The explosion caused extensive damage to the buildings, stores and cars in the vicinity.

A number of fire crews and ambulances rushed to the scene when news broke out about the incident.

Ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Fire crews have tackled the blazes, which engulfed the building.

People in the building have been evacuated for security reasons. Three people are believed to be trapped in the packaging store at the bottom of the building near the Mithatpasa tramway station.