Dozens die in Russian fuel station blast

A massive explosion at a gas station in Russia's southern republic of Dagestan killed at least 35 people and injured scores more, Russian officials said yesterday.

Russia's Health Ministry said 115 people were injured in the blast and subsequent fire, and 35 of them died, including three children.

A total of 65 of those injured, including 16 children, remained hospitalized as of midday yesterday, the ministry said. Eleven people, including two children, were in grave condition.

The explosion occurred Monday night on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the region's capital. Makhachkala is about 1,600 kilometers south of Moscow.

A fire started at a car repair shop and spread to a nearby gas station, triggering the blast.

Families of the dead will receive one million rubles (HK$80,000) each and the injured between 200,000 and 400,000 rubles, authorities said.

Russian state media said some of those injured would be airlifted to Moscow for treatment.

A criminal investigation is underway.

The explosion in Dagestan was the deadliest in Russia since April 2022, when a fire at a defense research facility in Tver, a city 160 kilometers north of Moscow, killed 22 people and injured a dozen more.

And a blast at a factory north of Moscow that makes optical equipment for Russia's security forces killed one person and injured 84 more earlier this month.