国际英语新闻:Argentina declares 2 days of mourning for Rosario blast victims

BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The government of Argentina Wednesday declared two days of national mourning for the 10 fatal victims of an explosion in an apartment building in the northern city of Rosario.

Presidential spokesman, Alfredo Scoccimarro, said President Cristina Fernandez signed the decree calling for the nation's flag to fly at half mast Wednesday and Thursday at all public buildings.

The blast, caused by a furnace gas leak, buried many residents of the 10-story building in rubble and even affected adjacent complexes in Rosario, 300 km northwest of Buenos Aires. It also left 63 injured.

Official sources said Wednesday that 12 people remained missing and that rescue workers continued to comb through the debris.

Fernandez traveled to Rosario and briefly visited the disaster site Wednesday. Her inspection was canceled after the head of state was met by jeers from angry residents at the site.

She later visited the hospital where the severely injured were being treated.