An explosion and fire at the entrance of  an Ibrag apartment trapped two residents in a back yard this evening. 

Eyewitnesses said a gas cylinder in a front garden path exploded and a fire developed quickly, trapping two women inside the apartment. A number of stone slabs were dislodged with the force of the blast.

The women, one of whom is pregnant, ran out to a back yard from were they were rescued and treated for smoke inhalation in a waiting ambulance. They were then taken to hospital. 

Three fire engines were deployed to the scene.

One reader told Times of Malta:

"At first I heard a massive noise and then a cloud of fire filled the air for a couple of seconds. I'v never seen anything like it before."