In Pakistan, gas cylinders exploded in the basement of an apartment building as residents were asleep early Tuesday, causing the three-story structure to collapse. At least 18 people were killed and 20 injured.
A dozen others were feared trapped under the debris, police chief Aftab Cheema said. Survivors said the building's owner ignored repeated requests to remove the cylinders.
Mohammed Afzal, the official in charge of the rescue operation, said the blast happened around 3 a.m. and was heard around Lahore, the main city in eastern Pakistan.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
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