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.

At least three people were killed and dozens trapped under rubble when an explosion destroyed part of a apartment building in northern Russia today, officials said.

Emergency crews pulled a seventh body from the ruins of an apartment block in northern Moscow today.

At least four people were killed and up to nine more were feared trapped in the debris of a Moscow residential building that collapsed following an explosion.