В России взрыв газа разрушил два этажа жилого дома: есть погибшие from

Explosion in Russia: Gas blast collapses two floors of apartment block, killing multiple people

Several residents are feared dead or trapped under the rubble after a suspected gas explosion tore through an apartment building in the city of Magnitogorsk

Rescue workers are searching through the wreckage for survivors but freezing temperatures are hampering their efforts

At least three people have been killed and several more are feared dead after a suspected gas explosion tore through an apartment building in the city of Magnitogorsk in Russia's Ural Mountains. The blast, which occurred at around 6am local time (9.30pm GMT on Monday) on New Year's Eve, caused the collapse of the two upper floors of a 10-story building, trapping residents inside. "According to preliminary data, three people were killed, one was rescued and six remain under the rubble," the emergencies ministry said in a statement. "Rescue work is ongoing." The blast is believed to have been caused by a gas leak in one of the apartments. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang and saw flames shooting out of the building. "I was sleeping when I heard a loud explosion," said one resident. "I ran out of my apartment and saw the building on fire." Another resident said: "The explosion was so powerful that it shook the whole building. I thought it was an earthquake." Emergency services were quick to arrive on the scene and began searching through the rubble for survivors. However, freezing temperatures are hampering their efforts. The temperatures in Magnitogorsk have plummeted to -20C (-4F) in recent days, making it difficult for rescue workers to operate. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has expressed his condolences to the victims' families and ordered the government to provide all necessary assistance. "We must do everything to help the victims and their families," Putin said. The explosion is the latest in a series of deadly gas blasts in Russia in recent years. In 2015, a gas explosion in a residential building in the city of Volgograd killed six people. In 2014, a gas explosion in a residential building in the city of Astrakhan killed five people. Gas explosions are a common problem in Russia, where many buildings are old and have poorly maintained gas systems.