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Casualties reported following gas explosion in residential block in Siberian city

The two-storied building, which lost a corner section and one of the apartment walls, is under threat of full collapse, a source from the Ministry for Emergency Situations said

© Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Krasnoyarsk Territory press service

KRASNOYARSK, February 25. /TASS/. A consumer gas explosion has damaged a residential block in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk on Wednesday morning. The explosion caused collapse of the corner section of the building. Rescuers have removed five survivors from under the debris, including two victims who received severe burns and were hospitalized.

The two-storied building, which lost a corner section and one of the apartment walls, is under threat of full collapse, a source from the Ministry for Emergency Situations said. Operations continue to remove the wreckage, it said.

Preliminary reports said that a gas balloon with a capacity of 25 liters exploded during repairs of gas supply equipment in the building.

Almost a 91-strong rescue team provided with 20 units of rescue facilities has been eliminating the after-effects of the explosion. Tenants evacuated from the building have been staying in a bus to keep themselves warm.

An investigation into the causes of the blast is going on.

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