A GAS explosion leaving one dead and two seriously injured could have been caused by an error on the part of the gas board technician, say firefighters.

Head of Granada’s fire brigade, Manuel Salas, revealed that yesterday’s explosion caused the death of a 30-year-old man and left a woman of 27 in hospital with a broken leg.
The gas installer, 60, suffered burns and a broken jaw.

He remains in the intensive care unit at the district hospital where his condition is said to be serious, but stable.

The explosion occurred shortly after 09.00hrs yesterday morning on the first floor of the three-storey building in the Cartuja district of Granada.

It is thought to be caused by a moment of carelessness on the part of the injured man who was installing a gas bottle on the floor immediately below the couple’s flat.

Firefighters are working to clear the rubble from the site of the explosion and to prevent any risks to pedestrians.

Shards of the building were found as far as 100 metres away, reveals Salas.

Police are investigating the cause of the blast.

Adjoining homes have had to be propped up to prevent their crumbling away, and around a dozen cars suffered damage from falling rubble.