A fire at a petrol station in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya, has claimed the lives of at least four people, including two children.
The incident occurred on Saturday, according to reports from Russia’s Emergency Ministry.
Images released by the authorities showed more than two dozen firefighters battling the flames at the nearly destroyed petrol station, where several burnt-out vehicles could be seen.
The fire, which started on Mohammad Ali Avenue, close to the city centre, has since been extinguished.
Videos shared on social media captured a large explosion, with flames shooting into the sky.
The exact cause of the blast has not yet been confirmed, but local officials have launched a criminal investigation.
This tragic event follows a series of similar incidents in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Last month, an explosion at a petrol station in Dagestan, a neighbouring region, killed 13 people. In August 2023, another blast in Dagestan claimed 35 lives and left many injured.
Grozny is located around 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) south of Moscow, and this latest explosion adds to the growing concerns over the safety of fuel stations in the region.