Gas explosion destroys entire section of Russian apartment building, killing at least three

A gas explosion in the stairwell of an apartment building in the Russian city of Saratov caused a near-total collapse of one section, from the first floor to the 10th. Three people, including a child, were killed, and several pedestrians were injured by falling debris. Residents were evacuated due to the risk of further collapse, and some people remain trapped under the rubble. The Saratov Regional Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation. Meduza has gathered the available details and photos from the scene.

The explosion occurred around 11:00 a.m. in a 10-story apartment building on Saratov’s Blinova Street. Early footage showed that a large section of the building had been destroyed, with at least the top five floors gone. Later, state media, citing emergency services, reported that the collapse extended from the first to the 10th floor. Videos circulating on Telegram showed the entire section of the building had crumbled from top to bottom.

The Saratov Regional Prosecutor’s Office said it had launched an inquiry, referring to the incident as a “gas-air mixture explosion.” The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges of providing services that fail to meet safety standards.