At least 12 killed at petrol station fire in Russia's Dagestan

At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured Monday in an explosion and fire at a filling station in Russia's Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the emergency situations ministry said.

“More than 60 people were injured in the fire in Makhachkala, and 12 of them died," the ministry wrote on Telegram. Makhachkala, located on the Caspian Sea, is the capital of Dagestan. An aircraft had been dispatched to Makhachkala to evacuate the seriously injured to Moscow, it added. The explosion took place at 9:40 pm, Sergei Melikov, head of the Dagestan administration, said on Telegram. “The reasons and type of the explosion are being clarified," he said.

The fire spread over an area of around 600 square meters, the ministry said, adding that 260 firefighters were deployed.