ASTRAKHAN, February 28 (Itar-Tass) — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Astrakhan on an unscheduled working visit, where a nine-storey apartment building partially collapsed on Monday.
The premier plans to visit the scene of the tragedy, talk with tenants and chair a conference with local officials on eliminating the consequences of the emergency.
Earlier on Tuesday, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov arrived in Astrakhan to lead the working group for investigating the accident.
Eight persons died in what is believed to be a gas cylinder explosion, and another 12 have been injured. Two persons are still listed as missing. The debris clearing operation continues.