Mexican Natural Gas Explosion Six People Dead

Mexican natural gas blast, six people including one minor were slain Sunday in a natural gas explosion at a resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, authorities and state media reported. Another 15 or so were wounded, according to local attorney general office, with the injured, including hotel staff and tourists from Canada and the United States. The U.S. State Department said that two of the wounded were Americans.

The explosion was probably caused by an accumulation of natural gas that somehow ignited but the official cause is under investigation, the Attorney General Office said. Police Commander Guillermo Arturo had earlier said that a gas stove or exploded in the Grand Riviera Princess.

Video of the scene on the east coast of Mexico showed debris spilled into a lawn in front of an area under thatched roofs where the restaurant is suspected. mexican resort expl mexicain people dead at blast pics of mexican resort gas

The explosion happened around 9 hours Sunday morning in the lobby of the hotel. Emergency personnel responded and the wounded transferred to an area hospital for treatment. ?Right now we have staff on site,? said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Gini Staab.

The two wounded Americans were taken to a hospital, she said. Authorities, including consular officials and consular officials were on site at the hotel are U.S. citizens reside, according to Staab.