Local officials confirmed that the death toll from a gas station explosion in Dagestan, Russia, has risen to at least 11, following the recovery of a body from the debris on Saturday. The explosion occurred on Friday and sparked a fire that ravaged the service station and its adjacent cafeteria, located on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the regional capital. Among the deceased are two children, according to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, which reported that the fire has since been extinguished.
Makhachkala lies approximately 1,600 kilometers (990 miles) south of Moscow. In response to the tragedy, regional authorities have initiated a criminal investigation to determine the explosion’s cause, while Saturday has been officially declared a day of mourning in Dagestan.
This incident follows a similar gas station explosion last August in Dagestan that resulted in the deaths of 35 people and injuries to 115 others.
