Powerful blast injures at least 35 in Prague

PRAGUE (AP) — A powerful blast believed to be a gas explosion ripped open an office building in the center of Prague on Monday, injuring at least 35 people and sending shockwaves through the heavily touristed Old Town. Authorities fear several people are buried under the rubble.The blast shattered windows in the scenic district of charming streets and postcard-pretty buildings and left tourists stranded on street corners with baggage-loaded trolleys, unable to get into their hotels.An AP Television cameraman filming at the time of the blast said the physical impact could be felt on the famed 15th- century Charles Bridge, which was packed with tourists.The blast occurred on Divadelni Street at about 10 a.m., in one of a row of several-story tall brick buildings dating back about a century. The street was covered with rubble and sealed off by police, who evacuated people from nearby buildings and closed a wide area around the explosion site. Continue reading →