Mexico - Injuries and deaths in Mexico City children's hospital blast

A gas truck explosion smashed a maternity children's hospital in Mexico City on Thursday, leaving at least seven people dead and scores injured, multiple media reported.

Four children are among the seven deaths confirmed after the natural gas explosion rocked the hospital, CNN said.

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A nurse and a baby died in the blast and a second infant died Thursday night, Mexico City authorities said. At least 70 people were injured.

About 75 percent of the hospital collapsed, officials said. By late in the day, rescuers determined no one was left trapped in the rubble.

Mayor Miguel Angel Man-cera said some of the injured were about to be released from area hospitals, including some mothers who suffered injuries while using their bodies to shield their children.

A 25-year-old nurse and a newborn between 2 and 3 weeks old died at the scene and a second baby died several hours later at another hospital, said Armando Ahued, the city’s health secretary. He said 21 babies were injured, and nine of those and seven adults were in serious condition.

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A truck was supplying gas to the hospital when apparently a hose burst and the resulting leak caused an explosion, Mancera said.

The driver and two assistants delivering the gas have been detained, Mancera's office told CNNMexico. Two of the detained workers are hospitalized, and one is receiving other medical care, the office said.

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Witnesses to Thursday morning's explosion at the Maternity and Children's Hospital of Cuajimalpa said the truck arrived like it did every day and parked near the emergency entrance to fill the tanks on the roof above the kitchen.

People soon noticed a strong gas smell and saw a vapor cloud. The truck's crew worked for 15 minutes trying to stop the leak before calling for firefighters and, too late, urging people to get out.

The three crewmen on the Gas Express Nieto truck were hospitalized and in custody. Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said Friday that they could be charged with negligent homicide.

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Nine babies found alive in the rubble of a Mexican children's hospital after a gas blast have undergone DNA tests to help reunite them with their parents.

The testing was necessary as the babies were not wearing identity bracelets, Mexico City Mayor Angel Mancera said.

The explosion on Thursday killed a nurse and two infants and injured more than 70 others.

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