Russian Prime Minister Medvedev Expresses Condolences Over Building Collapse in Shakhty
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev offered on Monday his condolences to the relatives of the people who died as a result of the partial collapse of a nine-storey apartment building in the Russian town of Shakhty earlier in the day
The collapse of the eighth and ninth floors of the building is believed to have been caused by a household gas blast. According to the latest data, the incident has claimed the life of one woman, while seven people have been pulled alive from under the rubble and yet another four are still missing.
"I want to express my condolences to the relatives of the victims. And, of course, wish recovery to those injured," Medvedev said during a meeting with his deputies.
According to Vasily Golubev, the governor of the Rostov Region, where the town is located, the four missing people could be trapped on the two collapsed floors.
"[The missing people] may be in an apartment on the ninth floor and in an apartment on the floor below: presumably, it could be an elderly woman on the ninth floor and a family of three on the eighth floor," the governor told the Rossiya 24 broadcaster.
The governor added that a total of 163 people had been relocated from the partially collapsed building and a neighboring apartment block.
"It is, of course, up to the people to decide but all those who wish to temporarily move will be provided with temporary accommodation," Golubev said.
Following the incident, a state of emergency has been introduced in the town. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the region's governor to provide comprehensive assistance to all those injured.