MOSCOW: A gas explosion in a residential apartment building in Russia has resulted in the loss of at least four lives, with seven individuals injured, read a statement released by the Ministry of Emergency Situations on Wednesday.
The explosion occurred within a 9-storey residential complex located in Balashikha, situated 22 kilometers to the east of the capital city, Moscow. The statement said that two persons were still trapped beneath the debris, prompting a coordinated effort involving 184 personnel equipped with tools and heavy machinery to conduct debris removal and search-and-rescue operations.
Gas Explosion Triggers Structural Concerns
The explosion was so powerful that it caused the collapse of the building’s third, fourth, and fifth floors, leading to damage in at least 10 apartments. There is also a looming threat of further structural deterioration.
In response to the incident, the attorney general’s office has initiated a criminal investigation based on concerns regarding the “provision of services that do not meet security requirements.”
