Five people were killed and eleven injured in a fire triggered by a gas explosion in the Russian city of Engels, Saratov region, on March 10. Further 28 people were saved by firemen from the hotbed of fire. 

      Brick walls in two apartments in the multistory apartment building were destroyed by the blast, which took place at 5 a.m. local time. The cause of the blast remains unclear. According to preliminary data, fire started on the second or on the third floor of the building, maybe because of careless use of fire.

      Some 100 residents were evacuated in the morning, but were since allowed back into their homes. There are no hospitalized people in life-threatening condition with serious burns to the body.

      Specialist say the house can be reconstructed. This process will take about two months, so the residents will be able to return to their homes till May 9.

      In an unrelated incident, a 50-liter gas tank blew up in a shop in the Moscow region town of Stupino, also on Saturday. Five people, including an eight-year-old child, were injured, local emergency services said.

      This winter saw at least three similar incidents involving malfunctioning gas equipment, leaving a total of 17 dead and 39 injured. 

Sources: Lenta.ru RIA Novosti Image: rusnovosti.ru