Five dead in gas explosion in Cherkessk

The explosion occurred in a five-story apartment building in the city of Cherkessk in southern Russia.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but it is believed to have been caused by a gas leak.

The explosion occurred at around 5:50am local time (01:50 GMT) on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

The building was completely destroyed, and rescuers are still searching for survivors in the rubble.

The head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, Alexander Kurenkov, said that the death toll is likely to rise.

“We are doing everything we can to find survivors, but the situation is very difficult,” Kurenkov said.

The Russian government has declared a state of emergency in the city, and President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

The explosion is the deadliest in Russia since 2018, when a gas explosion in the city of Magnitogorsk killed 39 people.

Gas explosions are a common occurrence in Russia, where the aging infrastructure is often poorly maintained.

In 2021, there were more than 1,000 gas explosions in Russia, resulting in more than 100 deaths.

The Russian government has pledged to invest in improving the country’s gas infrastructure, but it is unclear when these improvements will be completed.

The explosion in Cherkessk is a reminder of the dangers of Russia’s aging gas infrastructure.

It is also a reminder of the importance of investing in improving this infrastructure to prevent future tragedies.