Explosion in filling station kills 25 in Russia

MOSCOW: As many as 25 people lost their lives including three children when a powerful explosion took place followed by a fire in a filling station in the capital city of the Republic of Dagestan, leaving over 60 others injured, according to a report early Tuesday.

At least 12 other children are reported to be among injured.

“The number of victims after the explosion at a gas station in Makhachkala has grown to 66 people, 10 of them are in serious condition,” the first deputy head of the Russian Ministry of Health who arrived in Dagestan was quoted as saying by Ria.

A witness quoted by the Russian daily Izvestia as saying that the fire started in an area where cars were parked and spread to the petrol station.

The fire at a gas station and a car service on the outskirts of Makhachkala was extinguished, Ria wrote on its Telegram.

“After the explosion, everything fell on our heads, we couldn’t see anything anymore,” said the witness.

A video posted on Telegram by the Ria Novosti showed flames rising from a building, followed by a huge explosion.

The fire spread over an area of around 600 square metres (6,450 square feet), the ministry said, adding that 260 firefighters were deployed.

According to the Ria report, on the evening of August 14, a car service caught fire on the highway in Makhachkala, the fire spread to a gas station, after which an explosion occurred.

More than 70 people and 20 pieces of equipment are involved in the liquidation of the emergency. Open burning, according to the latest data, managed to be eliminated, it reported.

First Deputy Minister of Health of Russia Viktor Fisenko flew to Dagestan to organise medical care for the wounded, according to the report. 

The victims of the explosion will be delivered by a special aircraft of the Ministry of Emergency Situations to Moscow hospitals.