35 dead after blast at fuel station in remote Russian republic of Dagestan
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Rescuers fighting a huge fire at a fuel station in Makhachkala, in the Russian republic of Dagestan on Aug 14.
PHOTO: AFP
MOSCOW – At least 35 people were killed in an explosion on Monday that created a huge fireball at a fuel station in Russia’s remote Caucasus republic of Dagestan, spurring condolences from President Vladimir Putin.
Images distributed by the emergencies ministry showed burnt cars silhouetted by the massive blaze and rescue workers in helmets attempting to put out the fire and clear rubble.
Government ministries said 35 people died and 80 were injured.
The Kremlin issued a statement on Tuesday, saying: “President Putin expresses his most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy in Dagestan and wishes a speedy recovery to the victims.”
The explosion in the city of Makhachkala happened after a fire broke out at a fuel station, the regional branch of the Investigative Committee, which probes major incidents, announced on social media.
“A fire occurred during car maintenance work, followed by a bang, as a result of which people were injured and died,” the committee said, adding that nearby buildings and cars were damaged.
A criminal case has been opened to establish the circumstances leading up to the fire, it added.
‘Couldn’t see anything’
State-run news agencies Tass and Ria Novosti reported that the fire had been extinguished.
Makhachkala, a city of over 600,000 on the Caspian Sea, is the capital of Dagestan, a Russian republic bordering Chechnya.
The blast was heard shortly around 10pm on Monday, according to Mr Sergei Melikov, head of the Dagestan administration.
A witness quoted by Russian daily newspaper Izvestia said the fire started in an area where cars were parked and spread to the petrol station.
“After the explosion, everything fell on our heads. We couldn’t see anything any more,” said the witness, who was not named.
Video footage released by Russia’s emergency situations ministry show firefighters trying to extinguish huge flames near burnt vehicles, as rescue workers examine the rubble of a building with flashlights.
The fire spread over an area of around 600 sq m, the ministry said, adding that 260 firefighters were deployed to put out the blaze.
Rescuers working at the site of a blast at a gas station in the city of Makhachkala in Dagestan on Aug 15.
PHOTO: AFP
A government Il-76 aircraft carrying medical equipment was dispatched to Makhachkala to evacuate the seriously injured to Moscow, it added.
Mr Melikov said an evacuation operation has since been completed.
The Dagestan government declared Tuesday a day of mourning.
“State flags will be flown at half mast throughout the country, and cultural institutions and TV channels will be asked to cancel entertainment events and programmes,” Mr Melikov said. AFP
