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Illegal Storage Of Fertilizer Considered As Possible Cause Of Deadly Explosion In Daghestan

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Deadly Explosion Rips Through Gasoline Station In Russia's North Caucasus
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Deadly Explosion Rips Through Gasoline Station In Russia's North Caucasus

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Deadly Explosion Rips Through Gasoline Station In Russia's North Caucasus

MAKHACHKALA, Russia -- The Russian Investigative Committee said late on August 15 that illegal storage of agrochemicals is one of a number of theories under consideration as it searches for the cause of an explosion in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan that killed 35 people.

Investigators said the explosion and fire took place in the city of Makhachkala after a fire broke out in an automobile service building and spread to another room where fertilizer might have been stored. The fire, which also engulfed nearby structures, including a gasoline station, took four hours for firefighters to extinguish, investigators said.

The Investigative Committee announced earlier that it had launched a probe into "providing services that do not correspond to the safety regulations, which led to the death of people."

Russia's Criminal Code envisions a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the crime.

Russia's Summer Of Fires

The aftermath of a massive blast in Makhachkala, southern Russia, that killed at least 35 people on the evening of August 14. Local media report the blast <a href="https://ria.ru/20230815/vzryv-1890236461.html">may have been caused</a> by chemicals stored in a warehouse that caught fire.&nbsp;
1/16 The aftermath of a massive blast in Makhachkala, southern Russia, that killed at least 35 people on the evening of August 14. Local media report the blast may have been caused by chemicals stored in a warehouse that caught fire. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Firefighters battle a blaze at a fertilizer storage facility in Ramenskoye, near Moscow, on August 13.&nbsp;
2/16 Firefighters battle a blaze at a fertilizer storage facility in Ramenskoye, near Moscow, on August 13. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A destroyed building of the Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant in Sergiyev Posad, near Moscow, on August 9. At least one person was killed and eight are missing after an explosion at the factory, which produces optical equipment for various industries including the Russian military.&nbsp;
3/16 A destroyed building of the Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant in Sergiyev Posad, near Moscow, on August 9. At least one person was killed and eight are missing after an explosion at the factory, which produces optical equipment for various industries including the Russian military. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A fire at a grain storage warehouse in Kubansky, in Russia&#39;s Krasnodar region, on August 6.&nbsp;
4/16 A fire at a grain storage warehouse in Kubansky, in Russia's Krasnodar region, on August 6. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Smoke rises from a fire in a battery production workshop in Voskresensk, near Moscow, on August 3. No casualties were reported in the blaze.&nbsp;
5/16 Smoke rises from a fire in a battery production workshop in Voskresensk, near Moscow, on August 3. No casualties were reported in the blaze. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A fire broke out at a tire factory in&nbsp;Lyubertsy, a suburb of Moscow, on August 1.&nbsp;
6/16 A fire broke out at a tire factory in Lyubertsy, a suburb of Moscow, on August 1. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A man looks at the damage from a drone that exploded on impact with a skyscraper in Moscow&#39;s International Business Center on August 1.&nbsp;
7/16 A man looks at the damage from a drone that exploded on impact with a skyscraper in Moscow's International Business Center on August 1. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Damage from a blast and fire after a drone hit a high-rise building in Moscow on July 24.&nbsp;
8/16 Damage from a blast and fire after a drone hit a high-rise building in Moscow on July 24. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Firefighters douse flames at a paper warehouse in Aksay, in Russia&#39;s Rostov region, on July 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;
9/16 Firefighters douse flames at a paper warehouse in Aksay, in Russia's Rostov region, on July 21.  
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Houses burn in Shaidurikha village on July 12 amid wildfires in the Sverdlovsk region. Dozens of houses were destroyed and one <a href="https://www.akm.ru/eng/press/rosgosstrakh-completes-settlement-after-a-large-scale-fire-in-the-village-of-shaidurikha-near-yekate/">pensioner reportedly died</a> in the disaster.&nbsp;
10/16 Houses burn in Shaidurikha village on July 12 amid wildfires in the Sverdlovsk region. Dozens of houses were destroyed and one pensioner reportedly died in the disaster. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Firefighters battle a tire warehouse fire in St. Petersburg on July 5.&nbsp;
11/16 Firefighters battle a tire warehouse fire in St. Petersburg on July 5. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
Smoke streams out of the building that houses Moscow&#39;s famous Cafe Pushkin on July 6. A fire reportedly broke out on the roof of the site. No casualties were reported.&nbsp;
12/16 Smoke streams out of the building that houses Moscow's famous Cafe Pushkin on July 6. A fire reportedly broke out on the roof of the site. No casualties were reported. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A firefighter at the entrance to a factory in Khimki, near Moscow, that erupted in flames on July 3.
13/16 A firefighter at the entrance to a factory in Khimki, near Moscow, that erupted in flames on July 3.
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A building of the Rostov-on-Don Zoo smoulders after a fire on June 26.&nbsp;
14/16 A building of the Rostov-on-Don Zoo smoulders after a fire on June 26. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
A woman watches a fuel tank burning in Voronezh, southern Russia, on June 24. The fuel tank exploded as a Russian military helicopter flew near it during the short-lived uprising by the Wagner mercenary group.&nbsp;
15/16 A woman watches a fuel tank burning in Voronezh, southern Russia, on June 24. The fuel tank exploded as a Russian military helicopter flew near it during the short-lived uprising by the Wagner mercenary group. 
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
The impact site of an apparent kamikaze drone that smashed into an apartment block in Voronezh on June 9.&nbsp;Three people were lightly wounded by glass fragments in the blast. The Voronezh region partly borders Ukraine.
16/16 The impact site of an apparent kamikaze drone that smashed into an apartment block in Voronezh on June 9. Three people were lightly wounded by glass fragments in the blast. The Voronezh region partly borders Ukraine.
A spate of fires and explosions, some affecting industrial complexes linked to the Kremlin's war effort, has rocked Russia in recent months. Here are some of the most significant.
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The committee said late on August 15 that the initial inspection of the scene was completed.

Russia's Health Ministry said at least three children were among those who lost their lives, while the Emergency Ministry said more than 80 were injured.

Daghestan's leader, Sergei Melikov, proclaimed August 15 as a mourning day across the republic and announced a state of emergency in the Kumtorkala district.

Rescue teams used helicopters and planes to evacuate the critically wounded. An Emergency Ministry plane arrived in Makhachkala to transport severely wounded individuals to hospitals in Moscow.

According to investigators' initial assessment, the explosion occurred after the fire spread to the gasoline station, leading to a presumption that two cisterns holding gasoline had exploded. The assessment late on August 15 didn't say whether that theory was still among those under consideration as the cause of the explosion.

Media reports cited local emergency officials as saying that blazing fuel covered people who had come to watch the fire at the automobile service building.

The service building and the gasoline station are located close to the Globus shopping center and the fire attracted many customers.

Last weekend, a gas leak caused an explosion in Daghestan's city of Derbent, killing a teenager and injuring four people.

Last week, another explosion caused by a gas leak, injuring eight people, including a child.

With reporting by TASS and Shot
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