At least 30 people were killed and 100 others were wounded in a massive explosion at a gas station in the southern Russia’s Republic of Dagestan on Tuesday.
Russia’s Emergency Ministry highlighted that a total of 105 people were injured, and 30 of them died.
On his part, Dagestan’s governor Sergei Melikov revealed that three of those killed were children.
Melikov announced a day of mourning following the deadly blast, the regional governor’s press service said in an issued statement.
“Dagestan’s head Sergey Melikov is sending his condolences to the families and friends of those killed. He has issued an order declaring August 15 to be a day of mourning in the Republic of Dagestan,” the official statement read.
The explosion took place Monday night on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the region’s capital.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that a fire started at a car repair shop and spread to a nearby gas station, resulting in a blast.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities have begun a criminal investigation.
Dagestan’s authorities also announced that families of the victims will receive 1 million rubles (about $10,000) each, while those injured will get 200,000-400,000 rubles.