The blast occurred in the La Plaine neighbourhood at 00:49 local time on Sunday (23:49 BST on Saturday). The cause remains unclear, but investigators are looking into the possibility of a gas leak. Housing minister Oliver Klein described the discovery of the bodies as "gruesome, difficult and dramatic", and told reporters the government would support the families of the victims. Five people from neighbouring buildings sustained minor injuries in the explosion and around 200 people had to be evacuated from their homes.