At least three people died Saturday when a three-storey house collapsed in southern Poland.

At least four others were injured in the collapse. Firefighters were searching for four others who were believed to be still trapped under the rubble, broadcaster TVN24 reported.

The apartment building, located in Swiebodzice, in south-western Poland, had a total of 18 residents. Firefighters said they believed 15 were inside at the time of the collapse, which was likely caused by a gas explosion.

‘I was just in the kitchen to fry a sausage when suddenly everything flew through the air with a bang,’ news outlet TVP Info quoted a woman who survived the incident as saying.

‘My husband is still in the rubble,’ she added.

Two of the three victims who were found under the debris were school-aged children, according to firefighters.

Close to 200 people were taking part in the search and rescue operation at the house, among them firefighters, emergency workers, police officers and volunteers, according to TVN24.