At least 35 people were killed and 80 injured following a massive explosion in Russia's Makhachkala on Monday late at night, Interfax news agency reported. According to the authorities, the explosion occurred opposite a filling station. The deceased include three children.
According to reports, the fire started at an auto repair shop on the roadside of a highway in Dagestani capital and then spread to a nearby gas station. Deputy Head of the Russian Health Ministry Viktor Fisenko told reporters that out of 66 injured in the explosion, 10 of them were in critical condition.
"Now 66 injured people are in medical institutions in Makhachkala, ten of them are in critical condition," state news agency TASS quoted Fisenko as saying. According to him, 28 ambulance crews are working at the site.
Russian authorities have now begun a criminal investigation behind the explosion. Families of the victims will receive 1 million rubles (about $10,000) each, Dagestan’s authorities said, and those injured — 200,000-400,000 rubles (about $2,000-$4,000).
2 fuel tanks exploded
According to the latest data, the area of the fire reached 600 square meters. The open fire was extinguished. Dagestan Head Sergey Melikov told reporters, that the explosion occurred opposite the filling station, its “causes and nature” are being determined.
He said that two out of eight fuel tanks exploded. "More than 70 people and 20 pieces of equipment are involved in extinguishing the fire," he added.
Although there were no reports of any involvement of Ukraine, a criminal case has been initiated, the regional branch of the Russian Investigative Committee reported. "Dagestan investigators initiated a criminal case under Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code (provision of services that do not meet the requirements of safety of life or health of consumers, causing the death of two or more people by negligence)," the agency’s website says.
(with AP inputs)
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