French President Jacques Chirac extended Friday condolences to Belgium over a huge gas explosion which killed at least 15 people and injuring a hundred others in south Belgium.

In a message sent to Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, the French president expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the victims.

The huge explosion took place at about 9:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) in the industrial area of Ghislenghien near the town of Ath, about 40km southeast of Brussels, according to Belgium state television channel VRT.

Source: Xinhua