What's happened
A gas tank explosion at a petrol station in Grozny, Chechnya, resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including two children. The incident occurred on October 12, 2024, and has prompted a criminal investigation by local authorities.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Gergana Krasteva from Metro, the explosion resulted in a significant fire that took hours to extinguish, with images showing extensive damage to the petrol station. The Moscow Times reported that the fire was extinguished, but the aftermath left the station almost completely destroyed. The Independent noted that a criminal investigation has been opened, reflecting the authorities' response to the incident. This follows a similar explosion in Dagestan last month, which killed 13 people, highlighting ongoing safety issues in the region.
How we got here
The explosion occurred at a petrol station on Mohammad Ali Avenue in Grozny, close to the city center. This incident follows a series of deadly blasts at service stations in the North Caucasus region, raising concerns about safety regulations.
More on these topics
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Chechnya, officially the Chechen Republic, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation.
It is located in the North Caucasus, and within 100 kilometres of the Caspian Sea. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny.