PARIS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred on Monday in a residential building in the Ain department in eastern France, resulting in at least six casualties, including two children who were killed, local authorities said.
The blast occurred at around 5:30 p.m. local time (1630 GMT) on the ground floor of a four-story building in Trevoux, according to a statement from the prefect of Ain.
Two nearby schools suffered material damage, including shattered windows, but no injuries have been reported, the statement said.
It added that rescue operations remain ongoing, urging the public to stay away from the area.
"I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the young victims. My thoughts are also with the injured," French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on social media platform X. ■
