Shocking moment mall collapses after bakery fire triggers terrifying explosions

Despite major explosions and relentless fires that lasted two days, not a single person was injured in the commercial center of the Uruguayan city of Punta del Este as the aftermath footage is released

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Uruguay: Shopping center collapses after large fire in Punta Del Este

This is the harrowing moment in which an entire shopping center collapses after a fire at a supermarket bakery sets off a series of terrifying explosions.

The fire - in the Uruguayan port city of Punta del Este - began on Saturday afternoon and took nearly 48 hours to fully extinguish.

Surprisingly, not a single injury has been reported despite the chaotic scenes shown in the newly released footage.

Firefighters say a dangerous buildup of gas set off a chain reaction that blew up the walls of the mall.

But within hours it had raged from the basement bakery to the entire mall, leaving people running for their lives.

The harrowing collapse occurred in the department of Maldonado in Uruguay (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

A shocking video shows the walls of the mall beginning to vent smoke and fumes.

Within seconds, they explode and crumble in a cloud of smoke and flames as firefighters take cover.

The second set of explosions was triggered on August 8 as the fire continued to rage through the building.

National Fire Department spokesman Pablo Benitez said the bakery fire quickly spread to a storage area.