Video | Gas station fire in Russia's Dagestan kills 35, including 3 children

A deadly fire tore through a gas station in the southern Russian region of Dagestan, claiming the lives of 35, including three children, while dozens of others were sustained injuries, media reports said Tuesday. The flames initially ignited at an auto repair shop situated along a highway in the capital city of Dagestan, Makhachkala, on the night of Monday.

The ferocity of the fire triggered explosions that extended to a nearby gas station, according to official accounts. Footage shared online captured the intensity of the situation. It showed a one-storey building engulfed in flames.

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An individual present at the scene likened the incident to a battlefield, describing the chaos and destruction that ensued as a result of the blaze."It's like a war here," thewitness reportedly said.

Injuries

Dozens of individuals have been injured. Out of the injured, at least 10 are reported to be in critical condition, as noted by the RIA news agency, citing Russian deputy health minister Vladimir Fisenko.

"Unfortunately, among the wounded, 13 are children," the Dagestani health ministry reportedly said. These grim numbers speak of the widespread impact of the disaster on innocent lives.

Firefighting efforts

Firefighters fought against the blaze for over three and a half hours, struggling to contain its rapid spread over an area encompassing 600 square metres (715 square yards), as per a statement by the Russian emergency service, reported TASS.

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Amid the chaos, an unnamed witness recalled the immediate aftermath of the explosion."After the explosion, everything fell on our heads, we couldn't see anything anymore," said the unnamed witness, reported AFP news agency.

A video shared on Telegram by the Ria Novosti news agency showed the initial flames erupting from the building, followed by a massive explosion.

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The scale of the catastrophe necessitated a robust emergency response, with 260 firefighters mobilised to battle the flames and mitigate further destruction.

(With inputs from agencies)

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