The tragic toll of a gas station explosion in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan has risen to at least 11, after authorities confirmed a body was recovered from the rubble on Saturday. The devastating blast occurred on Friday, triggering a raging fire that consumed the service station and its attached cafeteria on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the regional capital. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry reported that two children were among the victims.
The fire, which engulfed the gas station and its cafeteria, was eventually brought under control. Located approximately 1,600 kilometers (990 miles) south of Moscow, Makhachkala is the largest city in Dagestan.
Local authorities have launched a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. As a mark of respect for the victims, Saturday has been declared a day of mourning in Dagestan.
This tragedy echoes a similar incident last August, when a massive explosion at a gas station in the same region resulted in the deaths of 35 individuals and injuries to 115 others.
