According to emergency medics cited by the Russian news agency Interfax, a fire at a gas station in the southern Russian region of Dagestan on Monday night resulted in the death of at least 25 people.
Officials stated that the fire originated from an auto repair shop located on the side of a highway in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, and subsequently caused explosions that spread to the nearby gas station.
Another Russian news agency, RIA, quoted Russian deputy health minister Vladimir Fisenko, who reported that at least 66 people were injured, with 10 of them in critical condition.
The Russian emergency service, as stated by the news agency Tass, mentioned that it took firefighters over three and a half hours to extinguish the fire, which affected an area of approximately 6,400 square feet.
Dagestan, situated in the south of Russia on the northwest coast of the Caspian Sea, is predominantly Muslim and renowned for its breathtaking mountain landscapes, diverse ethnic groups, and a persistent and violent Islamist insurgency.
2023-08-14 22:39:14
Link from www.nytimes.com
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