Eight people missing after explosion destroys two buildings in Marseille

Eight people are not responding to calls and are thought to be under the rubble of two buildings that collapsed in an explosion early on Sunday in Marseille, local officials said.

The cause of the explosion in the southern French city was not yet known, Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens said.

The collapse caused a fire that has complicated rescue efforts and investigations, and it has not yet been brought under control, she told a news conference on Sunday evening.

Television footage showed clouds of smoke rising from the rubble as firefighters tried to put out the fire, while trained dogs were used to try to locate victims.

Five people were taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. The interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, who visited the site, said 30 buildings in the area were evacuated.

AFP and Reuters contributed to this report