A powerful blast that ripped through a canteen in downtown of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday was caused by a household gas leak, local police said on Saturday.
Three people were killed and 17 injured as a result of the blast, which also damaged eight floors of the 11-storey building, where the canteen was located.
Witnesses later said there was a strong smell of gas in the area of the canteen shortly before the explosion, the police said.
All those killed in the blast were canteen personnel. Four of the injured people are in hospitals in serious condition.
