At least 15 dead in apartment 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.

Authorities refused to rule out terrorism amid heightened tension in Russia after a series of terrorist attacks blamed on Chechen rebels.

In 1999, explosions blamed on rebels ripped through apartment buildings in Moscow and two other cities, killing some 300 people.

Today’s blast hit at 3.25am (12.25am Irish time) when most of the 80 residents registered in the building in Arkhangelsk, about 600 miles north of Moscow, would have been in bed, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Marina Ryklina.

Eighteen people have been retrieved from under the rubble, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Sergei Vlasov. He said that emergency officials believed around 50 people remained trapped under the debris.

The explosion sheared a whole section of the building off, leaving huge chunks of debris. Windows in neighbouring buildings were blown out by the force of the blast.

Russian state television showed footage of rescue crews clambering over the debris, using power saws to cut through piles of building materials as cranes lifted off the biggest beams.

Authorities said a gas leak was the most likely cause of the blast, though other causes, including terrorism, were not ruled out.

City fire service official Alexei Semyonov said there was a strong smell of gas at the blast site and that gas leaks had been reported in other Arkhangelsk buildings overnight.

Twenty-two people were retrieved from under the rubble, along with eight bodies, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Sergei Vlasov. He said that emergency officials believed around 50 people remained trapped under the debris.

The Emergency Situations Ministry dispatched an Il-76 cargo plane from Moscow, carrying more rescue workers and heavy equipment, and two Mi-8 helicopters from northern Karelia, bringing rescue crews and search dogs, Vlasov said.

The death toll later rose to 15, authorities said.

A gas leak was the most likely cause, emergency workers said, after fire fighters responding to the scene reported a strong smell of gas and gas employees said leaks had been reported in other Arkhangelsk buildings overnight.

The ITAR-Tass news agency said that no explosive devices were found.