Gas explosion destroys apartment building in Cherkessk

At least 5 people killed, 15 missing and dozens injured after a huge gas explosion ripped through an apartment building in southern Russia

A massive gas explosion has ripped through an apartment building in the southern Russian city of Cherkessk, killing at least five people and leaving 15 others missing, officials said.

The blast occurred shortly before 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday, causing the building to partially collapse. Dozens of people were injured, and emergency services are still searching for survivors in the rubble.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a gas leak, but officials are still investigating the exact cause. The building is located in a densely populated area of Cherkessk, and the blast caused damage to nearby buildings as well.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the victims' families and ordered the government to provide assistance to those affected by the disaster.

The explosion is the second major disaster to hit Russia in recent weeks. On May 5, a fire at a shopping mall in Kemerovo killed 64 people, including 41 children.