Deadly Russia blast: Hunt on for survivors

Rescuers hunted for survivors yesterday after a gas explosion tore through a highrise residential building in central Russia, killing at least four people and leaving several dozen unaccounted for. President Vladimir Putin rushed to the Urals city of Magnitogorsk, where the blast left hundreds of residents homeless in freezing temperatures on New Year’s Eve -- the biggest holiday of the year in Russia. National television showed rescue workers combing through mangled heaps of concrete and metal in temperatures of minus 18 Celsius (minus 0.4 F). 

A large section of the building collapsed after the explosion around 6:00 am local time (1100 GMT) at the high-rise in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, nearly 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) east of Moscow in the Ural mountains. Officials said four people were confirmed dead and five had been taken to hospital, but that up to 40 could still be trapped under the rubble. “I went out to have a cigarette at quarter-to-six,” a local man told Russian television.

“There was a blast and a wave of fire... then people started running out.” Other witnesses said the explosion was strong enough to shatter the windows of nearby buildings. Russian television showed a grim-looking Putin in a black winter jacket meeting with local officials. He was also shown donning a white coat and visiting a victim in hospital.

Senior officials, including the emergencies and health ministers, flew to Magnitogorsk to oversee the rescue operation. Emergencies minister Yevgeny Zinichev told Putin that between 36 and 40 people could be trapped under the rubble.  Regional governor Boris Dubrovsky said seven children were among the missing.