Nine people, including seven children, died in a gas cylinder explosion in a home in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA, citing local authorities.
"A fire broke out in a home (yesterday) afternoon, in which (...) unfortunately nine of our compatriots lost their lives," the country's Interior Ministry said in a statement, without giving details about the victims.
Shortly before that, Caracas Mayor Carmen Melendez reported eight deaths between the ages of 15 and 20, AFP reported.
According to the fire department, the explosion occurred on the ground floor of a home in the "Coche" neighborhood, inhabited mainly by representatives of the working class. The cause of death for the victims, who were on the upper floor, was asphyxiation.