At least seven people, including a newborn infant, have been killed following a blast and fire which broke out in southwestern France.
The French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, is anticipated to travel to the scene later today.
He wrote on Twitter that he gave his “full support” to the emergency services, adding: “Thoughts to the victims and their loved ones.”
The Pyrenees-Orientales fire and rescue department stated the explosion took place in the heart of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque at approximately 1.30.
Firefighters managed to rescue 29 people, four of whom needed to be taken to hospital with three suffering from smoke inhalation and another seriously injured.
An investigation has been opened to determine the causes of the explosion.
Public prosecutor Jean-David Cavaillé will give a press conference at around noon local time and added that the death toll is still provisional.
What's happening in Tunisia?
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for updates.
