Death toll rises to 10 in powerful explosion near Dominican Republic capital

SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic (AP) — The death toll from a powerful explosion near the capital of the Dominican Republic rose Tuesday to 10 with dozens injured, as firefighters searched through smouldering rubble and people cried outside hospitals looking for missing loved ones.

President Luis Abinader visited San Cristobal, located just west of Sango Domingo, to meet with those affected, saying an additional 11 people were missing and that authorities were still trying to extinguish the fire amid collapsed buildings and charred vehicles.

“We're doing everything humanly possible ... to investigate the situation of the 11 missing,” he said.

“The search for survivors has been very difficult.”

At least 10 people were killed and more than 50 people were injured in Monday's explosion at a bustling commercial centre in San Cristobal, said Joel Santos, minister of the presidency.

At least 36 of the injured remained hospitalised, he said.

Health Minister Daniel Rivera said authorities have still not been able to access “ground zero” where the explosion occurred because it was still burning.

Estefani Alcántara said her family was shopping when the explosion occurred.

Her uncle, 42, is hospitalized with serious injuries and her aunt is still missing.

The country's emergency telephone system said the explosion occurred at a bakery in the city's centre, a bustling area known as “Old Marketplace,” where people buy goods ranging from vegetables to clothes.

The fire then spread to a hardware store next door and a nearby furniture store.

Among the victims was a 4-month-old baby who died from head trauma and a woman who worked at a bank, officials said.

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