Explosion destroys sports centre in Belgium, at least one dead

An explosion destroyed half of a sports centre in Belgium, with reports from Belgian authorities that at least one person died and four were injured, two of whom seriously.

The blast happened shortly after midnight at a complex known as Le Chalon in the southern municipality of Chimay, on the border with France.

Chimay police chief Pierre Maton is cited by the Guardian saying early on Friday that the blast was most likely “a gas explosion,” but an investigation into the cause was ongoing.

The building’s windows were blown out, and one corner of the structure was badly damaged but there was no major collapse, with the damage reportedly being less severe than initially thought.

According to officials, there was no indication of it being a militant attack.

It is thought there was a total of five people in the building.

A municipal stage of emergency has been declared and police have set up a security perimeter at the scene of the disaster, according to local media reports.