A gas pipeline exploded in western Poland Thursday, destroying a dozen homes, killing three people and injuring 10, officials said. "The explosion occurred at 2:00 pm and caused a huge fire" with dark billowing smoke in the village of Jankow Przygrodzki, said Tomasz Stube, spokesman for the Poznan region.
The accident was caused by a gas leak after a pipe cracked, "probably during local construction work", added Krzysztof Biernacki, fire department spokesman in nearby Ostrow Wielkopolski. Eight people remain hospitalised including two children, one in serious condition, according to Joanna Pawlaczyk, spokeswoman for a hospital in Ostrow Wielkopolski.