A Russian passenger jet crashed and another apparently broke up in the air almost simultaneously after they took off from the same airport, raising fears of a double terrorist atrocity.

AN apparent natural gas explosion destroyed part of a nine-storey apartment building in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk early yesterday as residents slept, killing at least 21 people. About 20 people remained missing hours after the blast.

An explosion blamed on a natural gas leak destroyed a section of a nine-storey apartment building in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk early today as residents slept, killing at least 15 people and leaving dozens trapped.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered rescue teams to be sent to Iran to help the rescue effort after a massive earthquake there today.

Twenty-eight children were killed today in southern Russia when a fire roared through a boarding school for the deaf.