MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. The death toll in Saturday’s gas blast that occurred at an apartment building on Russia’s Far Eastern Sakhalin Island has risen to three, the region’s governor Valery Limarenko wrote in his Telegram channel.

"According to preliminary information, the bodies of three deceased residents were pulled from the rubble of the building in Tymovskoye," he wrote.

Earlier, an emergencies source told TASS two people were killed. According to previous reports, nine people were injured.

A powerful explosion occurred in a five-storey residential building in the settlement of Tymovskoye on Russia’s Far Eastern Sakhalin Island at around 5:30 Moscow time on Saturday. According to preliminary information, a gas cylinder exploded in one of its apartments, causing floors from one to five to collapse. Rescue teams are working at the scene, with at least 10 vehicles and 30 rescuers involved in the effort.

The brick building was built in 1980 and has 80 apartments. It was not connected to centralized gas supply infrastructure.

A temporary shelter has been created, offering beds, hot meals and other necessary items to affected residents.