Firefighters are seen attempting to put out a fire at the scene of a fatal explosion in Madrid on January 20.

At least three people have been confirmed dead and eight injured in an explosion suspected to be caused by a gas leak.

A strong explosion has partially destroyed a building located in the center of Madrid at three in the afternoon this Wednesday, causing at least three deaths and one missing person, in addition to six injured, as confirmed by the Community Government delegate, José Manuel Frank. The mayor of the city, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has made a preliminary assessment "with all precautions" from the area and has indicated that the causes point to a gas leak, which has blown up the four upper floors of the building in the Calle de Toledo, less than a kilometer from the Plaza Mayor in the capital.

According to the first balance made by Emergencies, two of the deceased are an 85-year-old woman who was walking down the street and a man whose age has not been provided. The affected property is located in the Centro district, very close to the Puerta de Toledo and next to the Virgen de la Paloma church and the La Salle-La Paloma concerted school. Nearby there is also a nursing home, Los Nogales La Paloma, where the event was initially located by mistake.