On Friday, a tragic incident unfolded in Russia's Ural Mountains as an apartment block collapsed following a gas explosion, resulting in the loss of at least four lives. The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed the casualties and reported that fifteen individuals have been rescued from the rubble, while many others remain trapped.
Photographs released by Russian agencies depicted a significant portion of the five-story prefab building in Nizhny Tagil reduced to debris. The Emergencies Ministry indicated that a natural gas tank explosion was the probable trigger for the collapse. Witnesses from nearby buildings recounted hearing a powerful blast just before the structure crumbled on Thursday.
A massive rescue operation involving more than 500 emergency personnel and heavy machinery was underway on Friday. The teams have managed to extract 15 individuals, including seven children and even a cat, from the wreckage. Most of the survivors have been hospitalized, with reports of a young girl in critical condition, as stated by local health authorities.
In response to the incident, Russian law enforcement has initiated a criminal investigation, suspecting a breach in health and safety protocols. The search and rescue efforts continue as emergency officials strive to locate and extract any remaining individuals trapped beneath the debris.
