One dies, two injured in Arkhangelsk gas blast.

ARKHANGELSK, March 14 (Itar-Tass) - One person died and another two
were injured in a gas cylinder explosion at an Arkhangelsk apartment
house, spokesman for the regional department of the Emergency Situations
Ministry Igor Grigoryev told Itar-Tass.
The explosion occurred at 18:57, Moscow time, on Saturday, at the
two-storey wooden house in Admiral Makarov Street. The building
accommodated eight apartments.
"The epicenter of the explosion was at apartment 7 on the second
floor. The ensuing fire was contained at 21:16. The explosion and the fire
caused the collapse of the middle part of the building, rendering it fully
unsuitable for living," Grigoryev said.
A 29-year-old woman was killed in the blast, and another two tenants -
a 45-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were rushed to hospital with
severe burns. The cause of the explosion is being ascertained.
It was the second gas cylinder explosion in the Arkhangelsk region
within a day. Overnight to March 13, six people were hurt in a gas
explosion in the village of Chyorny Yar, Primorsky district. There were
three children among the injured.
The blast occurred in a two-storey house. The victims were rushed to
Arkhangelsk hospitals.
According to regional Minister for Public Health and Social
Development Nadezha Makarova, three children are at the resuscitation unit
of the regional children's hospital.
"The injuries of the 13-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy are of
medium and high severity, respectively, Makarova said.
A two-year-old girl is in critical condition. Their mother has 70
percent burns. At present, we're negotiating with several Moscow burn
centers over sending these patients there fore treatment," she added.
On March 14, the Arkhangelsk regional administration will hold an
emergency conference over measures to enhance the safe handling of natural
gas.
-0-myz