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Death toll in Sakhalin apartment building blast rises to eight — governor

A powerful explosion rocked a five-story residential building in the settlement of Tymovskoye on Russia’s Far Eastern Sakhalin Island at around 5:03 a.m. Moscow time on Saturday

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. The death toll in a gas blast that hit an apartment building on Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East has risen to eight people, Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko said on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

"I am working at the scene of the incident in [the settlement of] Tymovskoye. According to preliminary information, the death toll has increased to eight people," the governor said.

It was reported earlier on Saturday that three children were among those who died in the apartment building gas blast.

A powerful explosion rocked a five-story residential building in the settlement of Tymovskoye on Russia’s Far Eastern Sakhalin Island at around 5:03 a.m. Moscow time on Saturday. According to preliminary information, a gas cylinder exploded in one of its apartments, causing the floors in one of its sections to collapse. Rescue teams are working at the scene, with at least 13 vehicles and 59 rescuers involved in the effort.

The five-story building was built in 1980 and has 80 apartments. It was not connected to centralized gas supply infrastructure. It underwent its major overhaul in 2016.

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

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