Photos: Two bodies found in French building collapse as rescue efforts continue

Two bodies were found in the rubble of a building that collapsed in Marseille following a major explosion, French authorities said early Monday, as rescue workers scrambled to find at least six people still unaccounted for.

The discovery of the bodies came about 24 hours after the blast brought down the four-storey building in the Mediterranean port city.

Emergency workers had continued rescue operations through Sunday night into the early hours of Monday with the help of a crane and lights, but a persistent fire underneath the rubble hampered their work, making it difficult for firefighters to deploy sniffer dogs.

Earlier on Sunday, before the discovery of the bodies, local prosecutor Dominique Laurens told reporters that eight people "were not responding to phone calls".

Five people from neighbouring buildings sustained minor injuries in the blast and collapse, which occurred around 12:40 am on Sunday (2240 GMT Saturday).

The cause of the explosion is still to be determined, but investigators are looking at the possibility it was the result of a gas leak.

More than 100 firefighters were battling the blaze in the ruins of the building, which was believed to have one apartment on each floor.

Emergency service personnel shine torches into the rubble at 'rue Tivoli' after a building collapsed in the street, in Marseille, southern France.

Emergency service personnel look into the rubble at 'rue Tivoli' after a building collapsed in the street, in Marseille, southern France.

Emergency services workers look on as an excavator moves rubble at 'rue Tivoli' after a building collapsed in the street, in Marseille.

Firefighters work on the rubble at 'rue Tivoli' after a building collapsed in the street, in Marseill.