Three Dead, 13 Injured After Apartment Explosion in Bucharest

A powerful explosion ripped through a residential building in Bucharest on Friday, killing three people and injuring at least 13 others, Romanian authorities said.

The blast occurred in an eight-story apartment block on Calea Rahovei in Sector 5 of the capital, damaging the fifth and sixth floors and sending debris cascading onto the street below. Emergency services said they received reports of the explosion shortly after midday, prompting a large-scale response involving more than a dozen vehicles — including 11 fire engines and four mobile intensive care units.

The Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (ISU) confirmed that all residents were evacuated as firefighters and rescue teams combed the site for survivors. “Search operations are ongoing to ensure no one remains trapped in the debris,” the agency said in a statement.

Romania’s Ministry of Health said the victims had suffered multiple injuries, including severe burns and trauma. One person was discovered dead beneath a collapsed concrete slab on the building’s sixth floor, while others were transported to hospitals across the city for treatment.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Authorities said they had shut off the gas supply in the area as a precaution while technical experts worked to determine whether a gas leak was to blame.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom followed by a plume of smoke rising from the building. “The explosion was so strong that windows shattered across the street,” said a local resident who lives nearby.

Footage released by emergency services showed the facades of two floors completely torn open, exposing rooms and furniture inside. The force of the blast appeared to have damaged nearby buildings, with emergency officials reporting that elements of a neighboring structure’s facade had detached as a result of the shockwave.

Students and teachers at a nearby school were also evacuated as a safety measure, according to Bucharest’s School Inspectorate. Classes were suspended until structural checks on the affected buildings are completed.

Rescue teams continued to secure the area on Friday evening, with authorities warning residents to stay clear of the site due to the risk of further collapse.

Romania has experienced several gas-related explosions in recent years, often linked to aging infrastructure and illegal modifications to residential gas lines. Officials said they would review safety protocols and conduct inspections in the surrounding area to prevent similar incidents.