German police say that 25 people have been injured, four of them severely, when an explosion destroyed a building in the western city of Wuppertal.

Police said the explosion rocked the several‑story building with a large bang, scaring people in surrounding homes so much they ran out into the street in a panic.

Fire then broke out in several different parts of the apartment building and firefighters were able to rescue four severely injured people from inside the building and sent them to the hospital. Another 21 people were slightly injured and treated by emergency staff at the scene.

[Source:Stuff.co.nz]