The scene of the explosion which kills 12 and injures 66 others in Makhachkala, Russia.  — TASS/VNA Photo

MAKHACHKALA — Twelve people were killed and 66 were injured in an explosion in Makhachkala on Monday night.

According to the authorities, the explosion occurred opposite a filling station.

The number of people hospitalised after an explosion at the filling station in Makhachkala has reached 66, with ten of them in serious condition, deputy head of the Russian Health Ministry Viktor Fisenko told reporters.

"Now 66 injured people are in medical institutions in Makhachkala, ten of them are in critical condition," Fisenko said.

According to him, 28 ambulance crews are working at the site.

At the moment, according to the Emergencies Ministry, the open burning has been extinguished. TASS has gathered the main facts about the incident.

Circumstances of incident

On Monday evening, an explosion took place at a filling station on the outskirts of Makhachkala. A huge fire broke out. According to the latest data, the area of the fire reached 600 square metres. The open fire was extinguished.

As Dagestan Head Sergey Melikov told reporters, the explosion occurred opposite the filling station, its “causes and nature” are being determined.

Two out of eight fuel tanks exploded. More than 70 people and 20 pieces of equipment are involved in extinguishing the fire.

Police and city officials are moving people away from the scene. There is a risk of a second explosion.

Gas supply was limited in the Makhachkala district where the explosion took place.

Casualties and fatalities

According to official data, 12 people were killed, including two children, and 66 people were injured, including 13 children as a result of the incident.

According to the Russian Health Ministry, hospitals in Makhachkala have everything necessary to treat the injured.

According to the regional prosecutor’s office, an inspection has been organised in connection with the fire at the filling station.

Senior Dagestani officials have arrived at the scene.

The first deputy head of the Russian Health Ministry Viktor Fisenko arrived in Dagestan.

The families of the victims will receive all necessary assistance, Melikov told TASS.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry said that the victims would be flown to Moscow on a special ministry flight with doctors if necessary. — TASS