Explosion set off by welding; some 15 hurt; Israel offers to aid with rescue op.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFramallah blast 298.88(photo credit: AP)
Welding at a gas station in Ramallah set off an explosion Thursday that killed at least ten people and wounded at least 15, Israel Radio quoted police and hospital officials as saying.
Firefighters put out the blaze more than an hour after the blast, which caused a nearby building to collapse. Rescue workers continued digging through the rubble.
Mohammed Eida, a Health Ministry official, said that four of the casualties were in serious condition. He said he expected more bodies to be pulled from the wreckage.
Israel has offered to help with the rescue operation but the Palestinians have not yet accepted the proposal.
However, the Central Command, Home Front Command and Civil Administration were all on stand by.
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