Gas supplies (illustrative)
Gas supplies (illustrative)Reuters

A family of three is missing after two buildings collapsed following a gas explosion in the southern Italian town of Conversano.

At least 10 people, including one child, were slightly injured after a gas explosion caused two buildings to collapse Thursday in the southern Italian town of Conversano.

In addition, three people are reported missing.

The explosion was apparently caused by a gas leak, which occurred shortly before 8:00 a.m. Local time in the historic center of the town.

One of the buildings that collapsed was empty; the other was filled with tourists.

The area has been evacuated due to the smell of gas.

Conversano Mayor Giuseppe Lovascio told Sky 24 Italian TV that rescuers are searching for a couple who arrived two days earlier with an 18-month-old baby. The Italian-Dutch couple were visiting from the Netherlands. “We cannot rule out victims,” he said.

The town is located south of the city of Bari in the region of Apulia, the area that forms the “heel” of the “Italian boot” on the map.