Russian Gas Explosion Kills 3
Death toll rises, 9 injured
1 dead, 5 in hospital after blast near apartment building
The death toll from a gas explosion in the southern Russian city of Cherkessk has risen to three, a local official said on Sunday.
The blast occurred on Saturday in a residential building in the city center, killing one person and injuring nine others.
The nine injured people were taken to hospital, and five of them are in serious condition.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but local officials said it was likely caused by a gas leak.
The city administration has set up a hotline for people to report damage to their property or to seek help.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry has sent a team of rescuers to Cherkessk to help with the aftermath of the explosion.
The blast is the latest in a series of gas explosions in Russia in recent years.
In 2018, a gas explosion in the city of Magnitogorsk killed 39 people and destroyed a residential building.
In 2015, a gas explosion in the city of Volgograd killed six people and injured 14 others.
Gas explosions are a common problem in Russia, where the aging infrastructure is often poorly maintained.
The Russian government has been working to improve safety standards in the gas industry, but more needs to be done to prevent further explosions.
