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FACTBOX: Residential building partially collapsed in Astrakhan

A total of 213 people have been evacuated, 37 of them - children

© Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP

ASTRAKHAN, November 16. /TASS/. Two stairwells of a five-story residential building collapsed in Astrakhan. Emergency services have arrived to the scene and started removing the debris.

According to preliminary reports, one woman died, several people are considered missing. Over 200 residents have been evacuated, temporary accommodation points have been established for them.

What happened

- A five-story residential building partially collapsed in downtown Astrakhan; stairwells number three and four have collapsed.

- Before the collapse, a crack in the wall was reported to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

- A woman, born in 1939, died; several people are considered missing, according to Governor Igor Babushkin.

Reaction of the authorities

- Governor Igor Babushkin announced the establishment of an anti-crisis center and a hotline.

- Ministry of Emergency Situations rescuers have started removing the debris. A minute of silence was declared in order to find the injured below.

- A total of 213 people have been evacuated, 37 of them - children. The information on the injured is being updated, the Ministry said.

- Three temporary accommodation points have been established in local schools. Residents are being provided with hot meals and water.

- Astrakhan Region Health Minister departed to the scene; ambulance brigades already arrived to the location. Regional Prosecutor Sergey Frost also departed to the scene.

- Two city hospitals have prepared beds for admission of the injured.

Collapse cause versions

- Regional authorities have ruled out the gas explosion version.

- According to the Astrakhan Region Vice Governor Oleg Knyazev, the "building’s framework" has collapsed. According to the information from open sources, the building was constructed in 1962.

- The investigators are working to determine the cause of the collapse; initiation of a criminal case is being considered.

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