Terrifying moment gas leak sets off explosion at Dominican Republic bakery injuring five people

A surveillance camera captured the moment an explosion destroyed a bakery in the Dominican Republic.

Footage shows a woman standing near the bakery's entrance and a vehicle passing by when a blast rocks the shop in the north-central city of La Vega on Thursday morning.

The oven's explosion shattered the bakery's window, scattering a metal pole and shards of glass onto the street.

The doors of the dental clinic next door were blown open by the impact of the blast before the frightened woman ran inside to seek safety.

Six men then rushed out of the shop before a bystander rushed over to an injured individual and removed his tank top.

La Vega Fire Department, colonel general César Abreu, told Noticias SIN that the explosion was caused by gas that had accumulated inside the oven.

The powerful explosion also caused the collapse of the ceiling in one of the clinic'sadr offices, where a patient was undergoing treatment. The dentist and the patient were not injured. 

One of the injured employees was identified as Julio Ruíz, who was standing by the oven baking bread. At least 55 percent of his body was burned, Dr. Francisco Ulerio said.

Bakery workers Cristofer Felipe, 27, and his uncle Dany Núñez were also injured and suffered burns covering 20 to 55 percent of their bodies.

'Let's hope that there really is nothing to regret except that lives are fine, apart from the issue of the burn,' Felipe's aunt, Jazmín Felipe, said. 'But it was a very difficult moment for everyone.' 

Carlos Rodríguez, 35, and a five-year-old girl were treated for minor injures. 

A fireman, whose name was not released, was treated for smoke inhalation and third-degree burns.

Noticias SIN reported that one of the victims was transferred to a hospital 80 miles away in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital.