Two elderly men and an elderly woman were taken to hospital after a fire that engulfed a garage in Luqa this afternoon, the police said.

Eyewitnesses also reported hearing a blast as the fire raged on, which was later said to have been a gas cylinder.

The men, aged 90 and 71, were initially rescued by members of the Civil Protection Department.

A woman, aged 71, who was trapped in a yard at the back of the building was later also rescued together with a dog. 

Residents in nearby homes were evacuated for safety reasons.

Civil Protection Department head Emanuel Psaila told TVM that the fire started in the garage but later spready to the residence in the floors above.

The cause of the fire is still to be established, the police said.

The fire started in a garage in Vittmi tal-Gwerra Street at around 5.30pm.