35 killed in massive blast in Russia’s Dagestan

A massive explosion at a gas station in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan left 35 people dead and more than 100 injured, Russian officials said.

The explosion happened in the outskirts of Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, on Monday night, killing 35 people, including three children, and injuring 115 people. The Associated Press (AP) reported that a fire began at a car repair shop and spread to a nearby fuel station, prompting the explosion.

Of those injured, 65 people, including 16 children, were still in the hospital as of midday Tuesday, according to Dagestan Gov. Sergey Melikov said in a Telegram post. Eleven of those people, including two children, were in grave condition, according to AP reports.

The Investigative Committee of Russia said it would be investigating the incident, according to a Telegram post from the committee. The committee posted a short video of investigators at the scene, and Melikov said law enforcement agencies are conducting an inspection of the event. He said the investigation will ensure safety of Dagestan residents and that “justice prevails.”

The Dagestan Regional Health Ministry said there are still bodies of victims that have not been identified, Russian state news agency TASS reported. The ministry said the closest relatives of missing persons must contact the Makhachkala municipal morgue and give biological samples to help identify the victims, according to the TASS report.

Tuesday was declared a day of mourning in Dagestan, according to AP reports.

The Kremlin issued a statement Tuesday, writing, “President Putin expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of an explosion at a fuel station in Makhachkala and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.”

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.