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Vladimir Putin was immediately informed of the tragedy in Magnitogorsk. Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief Yevgeny Zinichev flew to the accident site upon the President’s instructions. The President also instructed Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova to undertake all possible measures to provide aid to the victims and to relatives of the deceased.

Chelyabinsk Region Governor Boris Dubrovsky briefed the President over the telephone on the measures being undertaken.

The explosion took place in an apartment block in Magnitogorsk, following which a section of the building collapsed. According to preliminary data, the tragedy was caused by a gas explosion. Search and rescue work is being carried out on site, with 469 people and 66 vehicles involved.