A fire has extensively damaged an apartment in St Paul's Bay this afternoon, the police said.

No-one was hurt in the accident, which took place in an apartment in St Publius Street at around 2pm.

Civil Protection Department personnel were on site to control the blaze.

People who had been trapped in a balcony were all rescued.

The police are still trying to establish the cause of the blast.

Photos Michael Camilleri

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