A general view of a collapsed building is seen in Poznan, Poland, March 4, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. Courtesy of INSTAGRAM/ @PAWEL_ALTERNATYWNA /via REUTERS

WARSAW (Reuters) - Four people died and about 20 were injured in an apartment building collapse in Poznan, western Poland, most likely to have been caused by a gas explosion, state-run news agency PAP said on Sunday.

The explosion on Sunday morning destroyed four of 18 apartments in the building, PAP said, quoting a local fire brigade representative.

The prosecutor’s office said an investigation is expected to start on Monday.

“Looking at the degree of destruction of this building, it was initially assumed that it could have been a gas explosion, but we do not have certainty yet. For now, our activities are focused on the rescue operation,” a state fire service spkesman told broadcaster TVN24.

Many households in Poland use gas for cooking or heating water.</s>Four people were killed and 21 injured in an apartment building collapse in Poznan, Poland Saturday morning, according to the Polish Ministry of the Interior. A search of the site is still underway.

A total of 24 teams of firefighters were deployed to search for survivors trapped under the rubble. Local reports say 22 people were injured, but this higher figure has not yet been confirmed in an official statement.

The exact cause of the building's collapse has yet to be determined, although authorities are not ruling out a gas explosion, according to regional Governor Zbigniew Hoffman, reports the AP. Three people are believed to be in critical condition, while two others have already been discharged from hospital. A two-year-old girl has been admitted to the children's ward with minor injuries, according to TVN24.

“We are aware that with every minute the chances of finding living people are getting smaller,” said Slawomir Brandt, spokesman for the Poznan Fire Brigade, as quoted by TVN24. The residential building reportedly contained a total of 18 apartments, and three of its four stories were destroyed in the incident.

“For now, we do not know what caused the explosion. Looking at the degree of destruction of this building, it was initially assumed that it could have been a gas explosion, but we do not have certainty yet. For now, our activities are focused on the rescue operation," Fire Service spokesperson Pawel Fratczak told local media.

Many residents in the building reportedly use natural gas to heat their homes. The area was searched for gas leaks and the supply was shut off temporarily as a precaution. Rescue efforts are ongoing. The building reportedly passed a routine inspection of its heating systems on February 19, and no leaks were detected.</s>A partially collapsed apartment building is pictured after a gas explosion, which caused the death of four people, according to local media, in Poznan, Poland, March 4, 2018. Agencja Gazeta/Piotr Skornicki via REUTERS

WARSAW (Reuters) - Four people died and about 20 were injured in an apartment building collapse in Poznan, western Poland, most likely to have been caused by a gas explosion, state-run news agency PAP said on Sunday.

The explosion on Sunday morning destroyed four of 18 apartments in the building, PAP said, quoting a local fire brigade representative.

The prosecutor's office said an investigation is expected to start on Monday.

"Looking at the degree of destruction of this building, it was initially assumed that it could have been a gas explosion, but we do not have certainty yet. For now, our activities are focused on the rescue operation," a state fire service spokesman told broadcaster TVN24.

Many households in Poland use gas for cooking or heating water.</s>WARSAW (Reuters) - Four people died and about 20 were injured in an apartment building collapse in Poznan, western Poland, most likely to have been caused by a gas explosion, state-run news agency PAP said on Sunday.

The explosion on Sunday morning destroyed four of 18 apartments in the building, PAP said, quoting a local fire brigade representative.

The prosecutor’s office said an investigation is expected to start on Monday.

“Looking at the degree of destruction of this building, it was initially assumed that it could have been a gas explosion, but we do not have certainty yet. For now, our activities are focused on the rescue operation,” a state fire service spkesman told broadcaster TVN24.

Many households in Poland use gas for cooking or heating water.</s>A general view of a collapsed building is seen in Poznan, Poland, March 4, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. — Reuters picPOZNAN (POLAND), March 5 — Four people were killed and 21 were injured when a building collapsed yesterday in the town of Poznan in western Poland, firefighters said.

They said they did not expect to find further victims from the collapse, which was thought to be the result of a gas explosion.

“According to our calculations, our measuring equipment and our rescue teams, there should not be anyone else in the rubble,” said national rescue service chief Leszek Suski.

He said 40 people were in the building when it collapsed at 7:50am.

“It was provisionally determined that it could have been a gas explosion,” the firefighters’ spokesman told TVN24 television. — AFP</s>WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Officials in western Poland say 4 people are dead, over 22 injured in house collapse in Poznan.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>WARSAW, Poland - Officials in Poland say four people have died and 24 have been injured in the collapse of an apartment block in the western city of Poznan.

A spokesman for the local firefighters, Slawomir Brandt, said 24 teams of firefighters were working in the rubble after the collapse Sunday of a building that contained 18 apartments. He said some children are among the injured.

Regional governor Zbigniew Hoffman said it was too early to determine the cause of the collapse but added that a gas explosion was one possible reason.</s>WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Firefighters on Monday found the body of a fifth victim in the rubble of an apartment block that collapsed in western Poland.

Firefighters and rescuers with dogs have been searching in sub-freezing temperatures through the debris of the building in the western city of Poznan after it collapsed early Sunday.

The explosion of a gas cylinder is considered to be a possible reason for the collapse. Gas service to the site was cut off, and the remaining part of the building closed.

A city guard, left, and a rescuer walk with a little dog saved from the rubble of an apartment bloc that has collapsed killing several people in the western city of Poznan, Poland, Monday, March 5, 2018. Firefighters and rescuers with dogs have been searching in sub-freezing temperatures through the debris of the building in the western city of Poznan after it collapsed early Sunday. (AP Photo/Str)

Spokesman for Poznan firefighters Slawomir Brandt said Monday that the body of a fifth victim was found Monday.

Also Monday, rescuers saved a small dog from the rubble.

City authorities estimated that that 21 people were injured, four of whom remain hospitalized. Earlier Brandt put the number at 24.

Prime Minister Morawiecki extended words of sympathy to the families of the victims, and wishes of quick recovery to those injured in what he called a "very unlucky accident."

Last April, six people were killed and four injured when a gas explosion caused a small apartment building to collapse in the southwestern Polish town of Swiebodzice.

Firefighters and rescuers work at the scene of a building collapse in Poznan, Poland, Sunday, March 4, 2018. An apartment block collapsed Sunday in Poland's western city of Poznan, killing several people and injuring more than 20 others, officials said as teams of firefighters and rescuers with dogs combed the rubble in search of more victims. (AP Photo/Str)</s>Firefighters and rescuers work at the scene of a building collapse in Poznan, Poland, Sunday, March 4, 2018. An apartment block collapsed Sunday in Poland's western city of Poznan, killing several people and injuring more than 20 others, officials said as teams of firefighters and rescuers with dogs combed the rubble in search of more victims. (AP Photo/Str)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — An apartment building collapsed Sunday in Poland's western city of Poznan, killing four people and injuring 24 others, officials said as firefighters and rescuers with dogs combed the rubble in search of more victims.

The building contained 18 apartments and housed 40 residents, according to firefighters' spokesman Slawomir Brandt, who gave the death toll.

Polish TV channel TVP INFO showed part of a four-story building in a heap and rescuers checking the debris in sub-freezing temperatures. The search was expected to continue until Monday.

Police and prosecutors questioned witnesses at the site.

"We heard this loud bang and then terrible cries from people 'Save us! Save us!,'" ground floor resident Krzysztof Sledz told state news agency PAP. "My wife and I dressed and left the apartment to help the neighbors."

Sledz said they pulled their neighbor's 2-year-old daughter from a bed strewn with rubble.

"I thought she was dead, she was blue. But they say she is in hospital," Sledz said.

Hospital spokeswoman Urszula Laszynska said one young girl was hospitalized in stable condition, while two other children were dismissed after being treated for bruises.

Displaced residents were offered shelter and food at a nearby hotel. Officials said the remaining part of the building was unsafe and would be torn down.

The government has promised shelter and financial support for the residents.

Regional governor Zbigniew Hoffman said it was too early to determine the cause of the collapse, but added that a gas explosion was one possible explanation.

Gas service to the site was cut off, and the remaining part of the building closed.

Last April, six people were killed and four injured when a gas explosion caused a small apartment building to collapse in the southwestern Polish town of Swiebodzice.</s>WARSAW, Poland — An apartment block collapsed Sunday in the western city of Poznan, killing four people and injuring 24 others, officials in Poland said.

Spokesman Slawomir Brandt, said 24 teams of firefighters were combing through the rubble after the collapse of a building that contained 18 apartments and 40 residents.

TVP INFO showed part of a four-story building in a heap and rescuers checking the debris. Police and prosecutors were at the site investigating.

Hospital spokeswoman Urszula Laszynska said one little girl remained hospitalized in stable condition, while two other children have been dismissed with bruises.

Residents who were not injured were taken to a nearby hotel.

Regional governor Zbigniew Hoffman said it was too early to determine the cause of the collapse but added that a gas explosion was one possible explanation.
An explosion followed by a building collapse kills four and injures 20 in Poznan, Poland.