A massive explosion ripped through a Turkish petrol station in central Ankara last night, injuring 110 people, most of them guests at a wedding in a hall above the station, officials said.
A massive fireball engulfed the building and flames spread to nearby homes in the working-class neighbourhood before firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, about an hour and a half after the explosion.
Health Minister Mr Recep Akdag told reporters 110 people had been hurt and that no one had been killed. Ankara governor Mr Yahya Gur told reporters at the scene rescue workers did not believe any of the wedding guests were trapped inside the building.
Television channels showed victims with burns on their faces, torsos and legs walking into one hospital.
The wedding hall was full at the time and had a capacity of about 300 people, the state-run Anatolian news agency said. Local residents loaded victims into cars to drive them to nearby hospitals before ambulances arrived, Mr Akdag said.
A tanker was depositing liquid petroleum gas (LPG) at the station when the blast occurred, Mr Gur said.
One eyewitness told Anatolian a second, more violent blast occurred about 15 minutes after the initial explosion. Three other smaller blasts ripped through the building. Officials said several bystanders were hurt as they rushed to the scene to help victims.
Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the scene of the blast and a nearby hospital.
"We are relieved there are no deaths at this time," he told reporters after meeting some of the victims.
He also said authorities would prepare regulations barring fuel stations from densely populated areas.