BUILDING COLLAPSES IN MESSINA, SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED

MESSINA, JULY 30 /SRNA/ - Several people were injured when a building partially collapsed in Messina, on the island of Sicily, and firefighters and rescue teams are searching for possible missing persons, Italian media reported.

The building housed apartments and shops, DPA reported.

Federico Basile, the mayor of the port city of Messina, said he believed the collapse may have been caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder, although a structural failure could also have been responsible.

In a post on Facebook, Basile expressed sympathy for those affected and their families, who are going through a time of great fear and anxiety.

"The municipal administration has activated the municipal emergency operations centre to coordinate relief efforts and support affected residents," Basile said.

Sicily's President Renato Schifani pledged the regional government's support for all measures being undertaken by the city.

Search dogs and drones have been deployed at the scene to search for missing persons.

The damaged section of the building has also been secured so that the search can continue safely.