Rise in death toll from Belgian flat collapse

Another body was pulled out of the rubble of a collapsed apartment bock in the eastern Belgian town of Liege yesterday, bringing the death toll from last week's tragedy to 13, a local official said.

"A 13th body has been recovered" and taken to a morgue for scientific analysis, Liege public prosecutor Daniele Reynders said.

"All the rubble has been examined. The definite number of victims is 13," she told local television.

The six-storey building collapsed in the early hours of January 27 during rescue and fire operations after it a gas explosion.

Only a 13-year-old girl was pulled alive from the remains of the building hours after the collapse.

A total of 21 other people in injured in the explosion.

Police have not yet determined with the blast was an accident or the result of a suicide.

The inquiry which has been launched could last months.

The nearby area remains sealed off and some 500 people have been unable to return to their homes since the explosion.