Four people were killed and 70 were reported missing after a gas explosion ripped a 10 story apartment building in southern Russia. The explosion occurred at 6 am on Monday morning.
The high rise structure was home to 120 people in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk which borders Kazakhstan. Rescuers have pulled out four people alive out of the rubble. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the scene of the deadly blast.
Other cabinet officials are overlooking the rescue work. About 400 emergency workers are at the site, sniffing through the rubble looking for more survivors.
Rescue workers will find it tough to continue their operations during the night as the temperature could drop to – 24 degrees Celsius.
The neighbouring building complexes were evacuated on fears another tumble down.
Gas explosions are common in Russian homes and commercial premises due to outdated infrastructure, poor maintenance and neglection of safety rules.