An explosion at a sports center in the southern Belgian town of Chimay early on Friday killed one person and wounded four others, two of them seriously, Belgium's Crisis Center said.

"It is probably a gas explosion," an official at the agency told Reuters, adding that there was no indication of it being a militant attack.

Local media reported the blast occurred just after midnight local time, 6 p.m. ET, at a sports center known as Le Chalon in Chimay, close to the French border, when five people were still inside the building.

Part of the building was destroyed. Belgium and France, along with the rest of Europe, have been on high alert after ISIS-attacks in Paris and Brussels over the past year.</s>An explosion has destroyed half of a sports centre in Belgium, with reports at least one person has died and four have been injured, two seriously.

The blast happened shortly after midnight at a complex known as Le Chalon in the southern municipality of Chimay, on the border with France.

Chimay police chief Pierre Maton said early on Friday that the blast was most likely “a gas explosion,” but an investigation into the cause was ongoing. There was no indication of it being a militant attack, officials said.

It is thought there was a total of five people in the building.

Several dozen police and firefighters attended the scene and the area had been cordoned off, but the damage was not as serious as initially feared. Windows were blown out of the two-story building, and one corner of the structure was badly damaged but there was no major collapse.

The town has a population of 10,000 and lies 120km (75 miles) south of Brussels.

A municipal stage of emergency has been declared and police have set up a security perimeter at the scene of the disaster, according to local media reports.

Belgium and France, along with the rest of Europe, have been on high alert after Islamic State attacks in Paris and Brussels over the past year.</s>One person has been killed and at least four injured in a suspected gas blast at a sports centre near Belgium's border with France.

Chimay police chief Pierre Maton said the blast was most likely to have been a gas explosion and an investigation into the cause was continuing.

The blast in the town, 75 miles south of the capital Brussels, happened just after midnight local time.

The area was cordoned off, but the damage was not as serious as initially feared.

Windows were blown out of the two-storey building and one corner of the structure was badly damaged, but there was no major collapse.

Firefighters were clearing the rubble and securing the building early on Friday.

Police said they believed they had retrieved all the people from the rubble.

Chimay has a population of about 10,000 and is known for one of Belgium's most famous breweries.</s>CHIMAY, Belgium (AP) - One person was killed and at least four were injured in Belgium in an accidental explosion at a sports center near the French border.

Chimay police Chief Pierre Maton said early Friday that the blast was most likely “a gas explosion,” but an investigation into the cause was ongoing.

The blast in the town of Chimay, 75 miles south of the capital Brussels, happened just after midnight local time.

Several dozen police and firefighters were on the scene and the area had been cordoned off, but the damage was not as serious as initially feared. Windows were blown out of the two-story building, and one corner of the structure was badly damaged but there was no major collapse.

Firefighters were on the scene early Friday morning clearing the rubble and securing the building.

Police said they believed they have retrieved all the people from the rubble.

Chimay has a population of about 10,000.
An explosion at a sports centre in the Belgian town of Chimay kills one person and injures another four. A gas explosion is suspected to be the cause.