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Gas blast still deemed as main cause of Magnitogorsk building collapse, investigators say

No traces of explosives were found at Magnitogorsk building collapse site, according to the Russian Investigative Committee

© Ilya Moskovets/TASS

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/.Investigators found no traces of explosives at the building collapse site in the city of Magnitogorsk, Russian Investigative Committee Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told TASS.

"From the very beginning, the investigation has been looking into all possible causes of the tragedy. A household gas explosion is still believed to be the main cause. I would like to stress that experts found no traces of explosives at the site," she said.

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Putin orders to provide assistance to victims of household gas blast in Rostov Region

Petrenko pointed out that it would be possible to draw final conclusions only once all investigative activities were wrapped up and the evidence was assessed.

"Therefore, I call on journalists to not trust the statements of terrorist organizations that often claim responsibility for high-profile incidents taking place in various countries," the Investigative Committee spokesperson noted.

A section of a ten-storey apartment block collapsed in Magnitogorsk on the morning of December 31, 2018, killing 23. As many as 18 people were rescued in the first hours after the collapse, another six were pulled out of the rubble alive later. The search and rescue operation, which lasted four days.

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