An explosion has injured 25, four seriously, and destroyed a building in the German city of Wuppertal.

Neighbours ran out into the street in a panic after the house was rocked by the blast shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Fire broke out as the house collapsed, leaving a gaping hole in the row of apartments and debris piled in the street and on top of a nearby car.

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Four severely injured people were rescued and another 21 people were treated for injuries by emergency staff at the scene in the Langerfeld district.

Police said they were investigating the cause of the explosion and would not comment when asked if the explosion could possibly be terror-related.

“The work is made more difficult by the fact that the building is currently in acute danger of collapse,�? said a police spokesman.

“How this came to pass and what the background is, that remains completely unclear.�?

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This is to coincide with his state of the nation address in Manila. AFP/Getty

Search dogs were brought to the scene to look through the wreckage for survivors.

The fire department said later on Sunday morning that rescued residents had confirmed there was no one else in the house.

“Now that human rescue has been completed, we’re trying to keep the situation around the building stable,�? said a fire department spokesman.

Specialists were brought in to systematically demolish the house because of the high risk of further collapse.

On Sunday evening investigators said they were consulting an expert on the causes of the fire and explosion but stated that no further information could be provided.

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Five people remain in hospital including three with serious injuries, according to a police statement.

Authorities have brought in heavy equipment to tear down the remains of the ruin. They said it was too dangerous for investigators to search for evidence that might reveal the explosion’s cause because the destroyed building could collapse at any time.

Additional reporting by AP</s>Twenty-five people were injured, four severely, when an explosion ripped through an apartment building in Germany.

Police say the explosion rocked the several-story building in Wuppertal shortly before midnight Saturday with a large noise, scaring people in surrounding homes so much they ran out into the street in a panic.

Fire then broke out in several different parts of the apartment building and firefighters had trouble dousing the flames because parts of the building kept collapsing. They were able to rescue four severely injured from inside the building and sent them to the hospital. An additional 21 people were slightly injured and treated by emergency staff at the scene.

Police said Sunday they were still trying to get the fire under control and were investigating the cause of the explosion. They would not comment when asked if the explosion could possibly be terror-related.

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A car nearby was also destroyed, buried under window frames that were blown onto it by the impact of the explosion. Emergency personnel on Sunday picked up bricks and furniture on the street from the explosion.

Some of the building's roof beams stood black and eerie in the smoke as police scoured accessible parts of the building for further people trapped inside before giving the all-clear.

The place where the building stood is now a huge gap in a row of apartment buildings in the city's Langerfeld neighborhood.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.</s>A car and a house are destroyed after an explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of Wuppertal. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP) less

A car and a house are destroyed after an explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of ... more

A house is destroyed after an explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of Wuppertal. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP) less

A house is destroyed after an explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of Wuppertal. ... more

A car is destroyed after an explosion of a house in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of Wuppertal. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP) less

A car is destroyed after an explosion of a house in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of ... more

A car and a house are destroyed after an explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of Wuppertal. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP) less

A car and a house are destroyed after an explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, June 24, 2018. German police say 25 people were injured, when an explosion destroyed a several-store building in the western city of ... more

BERLIN (AP) — Twenty-five people were injured, four of them severely, during an explosion that destroyed an apartment building in the western German city of Wuppertal, police said Sunday.

Police said the explosion produced a large bang and rocked the multi-story building shortly before midnight Saturday, frightening people nearby so badly they ran out into the streets.

The cause and nature of the explosion was under investigation, German news agency dpa reported. The blast had so much force it destroyed the attic and top three floors of the building, dpa said.

Fires broke out in several areas of the structure, while firefighters had trouble dousing the flames ceilings, walls and floors kept collapsing. They located four severely injured people in the wreckage who were hospitalized, according to dpa. Another 21 were treated at the scene for less serious injuries.

Emergency personnel on Sunday picked up bricks and furniture on the street. A car was destroyed, buried under window frames that were blown onto it by the explosions' impact.

Some of the building's roof beams stood black and eerie in the smoke as police scoured accessible parts of the building for anyone who might trapped inside before giving the all-clear.

Where the building stood is now a huge gap in a row of apartment buildings in the city's Langerfeld neighborhood.

Later Sunday, authorities brought in heavy equipment to tear down the remains of the ruin. They said it was too dangerous for investigators to search for evidence that might reveal the explosion's cause because the destroyed building could collapse at any time.</s>German police: 25 injured, four severely, when an explosion destroys a building in the western city of Wuppertal.</s>BERLIN: According to the information given by the police, twenty five people suffered injuries in an explosion destroyed an apartment building in the western German city of Wuppertal.

Police said the explosion rocked the several-story building shortly before midnight Saturday with a large bang, scaring people in surrounding homes so much they ran out into the street in a panic. The detonation was so severe it destroyed the building’s attic and the top three floors, the German news agency dpa reported.

Fire then broke out in several different parts of the apartment building and firefighters had trouble dousing the flames because parts of the building kept collapsing. They were able to rescue four severely injured from inside the building and sent them to the hospital. Another 21 people were slightly injured and treated by emergency staff at the scene.

Police said Sunday they were still trying to get the fire under control and were investigating the cause of the explosion. They would not comment when asked if the explosion could possibly be terror-related.

A car nearby was destroyed, buried under window frames that were blown onto it by the impact of the explosion. Emergency personnel on Sunday picked up bricks and furniture on the street from the explosion.</s>German police: 25 injured, four severely, when an explosion destroys a building in the western city of Wuppertal

BERLIN (AP) — German police: 25 injured, four severely, when an explosion destroys a building in the western city of Wuppertal.</s>German police say 25 people have been injured, four severely, after an explosion destroyed an apartment block in the city of Wuppertal.

The explosion rocked the building shortly before midnight on Saturday, though the cause is unclear.

Four seriously injured people were rescued from inside while a further 21 received minor injuries.

Fire broke out in several different parts of the building - which is three stories plus a converted loft - and firefighters had trouble putting it out because parts of the building kept collapsing.

Emergency services were still trying to get the fire under control on Sunday.

A car which was parked outside was destroyed, becoming buried under window frames that were blown onto it by the impact of the explosion.

An investigation is under way into the cause of the blast.

Police described the scene as a "picture of devastation", German media reported.

There is now a huge gap in a row of apartments where the building stood in the city's Langerfeld neighbourhood.</s>WUPPERTAL, Germany (CNN) — At least 25 people were injured when an explosion, followed by a fire, tore through an apartment building in Germany.

Several people were hospitalized after the blast at a building in the western city of Wuppertal late Saturday night, police said in a statement.

“At the moment it cannot be ruled out that there are other people in the building, the search activities are continuing,” the statement said.

An initial investigation shows an explosion ripped through the building, completely destroying it.

Police say the blast destroyed the building’s attic and top three floors before igniting fires throughout the building.

Firefighters and rescuers worked through the night but their efforts were complicated by the building’s instability, authorities said. Surrounding buildings also have suffered damage.

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The cause of the explosion remains unclear.</s>At least five people were injured when an explosion, followed by a fire, tore through an apartment building in Germany.

Several people were hospitalized after the blast at a building in the western city of Wuppertal late Saturday night, police said in a statement.

“At the moment it cannot be ruled out that there are other people in the building, the search activities are continuing,” the statement said.

An initial investigation shows an explosion ripped through the building, completely destroying it. Large parts of the multistory residential building collapsed on the street and a fire broke out inside in several places, police said.

Firefighters and rescuers worked thought the night but their efforts were complicated by the building’s instability, authorities said. Surrounding buildings also have suffered damage.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear.</s>Twenty-five people were injured, four of them severely, when an explosion destroyed an apartment building in the western German city of Wuppertal, police said today. Police said the explosion rocked the several-story building shortly before midnight Saturday with a large bang, scaring people in surrounding homes so much they ran out into the street in a panic. The detonation was so severe it destroyed the building’s attic and the top three floors, the German news agency dpa reported.

Fire then broke out in several different parts of the apartment building and firefighters had trouble dousing the flames because parts of the building kept collapsing. They were able to rescue four severely injured from inside the building and sent them to the hospital. Another 21 people were slightly injured and treated by emergency staff at the scene. Police said they were in the dark about the cause of the explosion, dpa reported.

A car nearby was destroyed, buried under window frames that were blown onto it by the explosions’ impact. Emergency personnel on Sunday picked up bricks and furniture on the street. Some of the building’s roof beams stood black and eerie in the smoke as police scoured accessible parts of the building for further people trapped inside before giving the all-clear. Where the building stood is now a huge gap in a row of apartment buildings in the city’s Langerfeld neighborhood.

Later today, authorities brought in heavy equipment to tear down the remains of the ruin. They said it was too dangerous for investigators to search for evidence that might reveal the explosion’s cause because the destroyed building could collapse at any time.
An explosion in Wuppertal, Germany, destroys a building and injures at least 25 people, four of them seriously.