Blast at Romanian home improvement store injures 15

BUCHAREST, June 7 (Xinhua) -- An explosion at a chain home improvement store in Botosani, Romania, injured 15 people, including a child, on Friday morning, according to local media.

The gas blast and fire happened at a Dedeman DIY store in Botosani, reported the Agerpres news agency.

Of the injured, three were transferred to other hospitals and four remained hospitalized at the Botosani emergency facility, including two in the Intensive Care Unit and two in the Plastic Surgery Ward.

Dedeman said the explosion occurred during gas network maintenance conducted by a licensed external company.

The fire safety authority said that the shopping center had a valid fire safety permit. The exact cause of the blast remains unclear.