(photos) Mexico City gas truck explodes near maternity hospital

 

The explosion, on the western edge of Mexico City, was so large that much of the building was destroyed.
Officials initially said seven people had been killed, but Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera later revised the figure.
Dozens of people were injured by flying glass. About 100 people were believed to be inside the hospital at the time.
Rescuers are at the scene, searching for anyone who might be trapped under rubble and twisted metal. 
see more photos and details below...................

 

Mr Mancera said the blast had been caused by a leak in the hose carrying gas from the truck to the hospital kitchen.
The tanker workers had been struggling to repair the hose for about 15 to 20 minutes, according to reports.
As they worked, a large cloud of gas began to form outside the hospital, reports said.
Eyewitness Agustin Herrera, a 66-year-old anaesthesiologist, told the Associated Press news agency that the workers shouted for firefighters, but then there was a massive explosion.


Relatives of victims console each other at the site of the explosion
Another eyewitness, Ismael Garcia, told AP there had been a "super explosion".
He added: "Fortunately, we were able to get eight babies out."
There have been a number of other fatal gas explosions in Mexico over recent years.