AT least 8 people were injured, including two young children, after a gas explosion tore through a crowded village restaurant near Malaga.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene in Sayalonga after a series of frantic 112 calls flagged a major blast at the popular Restaurante Meson Morisco at around 8.15pm on Monday.
A two-year-old and a seven-year-old were among eight victims treated by paramedics at the scene, though none required immediate hospitalisation.
The explosion appears to have been caused by a leaky gas cylinder, authorities say.
Firefighters on the scene confirmed the force of the blast completely destroyed the upper floor of the restaurant and partially damaged the adjacent building.
The structural damage is so severe the local authorities have been forced to temporarily rehouse a next-door neighbor until safety inspectors can verify the stability of the properties.
Guardia Civil officers have launched a full investigation into the exact cause of the explosion, while emergency teams have removed the remaining gas canisters from the wreckage to prevent a secondary disaster.
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