Title: Fire at Gas Station in Makhachkala, Russia Claims 25 Lives
Date: August 15, 2023
A devastating fire at a gas station in the city of Makhachkala, Russia, has claimed the lives of 25 people, including three children, according to regional emergency medics cited by Interfax news agency.
The fire originated at an auto repair shop located on the roadside of a highway in the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala. It quickly spread and caused explosions that engulfed a nearby gas station, officials reported.
Footage posted online showed a one-storey building ablaze, painting a vivid picture of the intensity of the fire, as reported by Reuters TV. Witnesses have described the scene as reminiscent of a war zone.
The number of injured individuals has risen to 66, with 10 of them currently in critical condition, stated Russian deputy health minister Vladimir Fisenko, quoted by RIA news agency. Additionally, Interfax reported that 13 of the wounded are children, according to the Dagestani health ministry.
Firefighters battled for over three and a half hours to extinguish the flames, which had spread to an area of approximately 600 square meters (715 square yards), according to statements from the Russian emergency service reported by TASS.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Russian authorities are focused on understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic incident in order to prevent similar disasters in the future.
The tight-knit community of Makhachkala is deeply saddened by the loss of life and expresses its condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.
The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles have been adhered to in the reporting of this incident.
– Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova and Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Chris Reese and Muralikumar Anantharaman