German Firefighter Killed in Apartment Building Gas Explosion

A German firefighter was killed and another was seriously injured in a gas explosion Saturday.

The blast occurred at about 11:30 a.m. in an apartment building in Lienen in the country's Steinfurt district, German news outlet Bild reports. Before the explosion, residents had smelled an odor of gas, and they alerted firefighters as they left the building.

Crews were trying to determine the source of the gas smell when the explosion happened, partially collapsing the building. Firefighters also were struck by debris in the blast.

A volunteer firefighter, 19, was killed after being buried beneath the rubble. Another firefighter was pulled from the wreckage and suffered serious injuries, Bild added.