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Ukraine mourns Crimea blast dead | Ukraine mourns Crimea blast dead |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Ukraine is mourning the victims of Wednesday's blast at a block of flats in the Black Sea resort of Yevpatoria that left at least 27 people dead. | |
Officials said 21 people had been rescued but a number of tenants remained missing. | |
Two entrances to the five-storey building were blocked by falling concrete following the blast. | Two entrances to the five-storey building were blocked by falling concrete following the blast. |
The cause is unknown, although officials believe that gas cylinders may be to blame. | The cause is unknown, although officials believe that gas cylinders may be to blame. |
Day of mourning | Day of mourning |
Rescuers have been scrabbling through the rubble, calling for quiet to hear cries for help. | Rescuers have been scrabbling through the rubble, calling for quiet to hear cries for help. |
One resident, Lidia Kovalenko, told the AFP news agency: "I saw a blue flame and smoke and... a horrible explosion." | One resident, Lidia Kovalenko, told the AFP news agency: "I saw a blue flame and smoke and... a horrible explosion." |
There were about 35 flats in the building, which was built in the 1960s. | There were about 35 flats in the building, which was built in the 1960s. |
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his political rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, travelled in the same car to the site of the blast. | On Thursday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his political rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, travelled in the same car to the site of the blast. |
Mr Yushchenko later declared 26 December a national day of mourning. | Mr Yushchenko later declared 26 December a national day of mourning. |
Ms Tymoshenko said initial reports suggested dangerous materials were being stored without a proper permit in the basement. | Ms Tymoshenko said initial reports suggested dangerous materials were being stored without a proper permit in the basement. |
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences and said his Black Sea fleet was ready to help. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences and said his Black Sea fleet was ready to help. |
Yevpatoria is a popular summertime resort in Ukraine's Crimea peninsular. | Yevpatoria is a popular summertime resort in Ukraine's Crimea peninsular. |
Correspondents say casualties caused by gas explosions in often crumbling apartment buildings are common occurrences in former Soviet states, particularly in the winter, when residents use more heating. | Correspondents say casualties caused by gas explosions in often crumbling apartment buildings are common occurrences in former Soviet states, particularly in the winter, when residents use more heating. |
One such blast, in October 2007, killed 23 residents in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk. | One such blast, in October 2007, killed 23 residents in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk. |
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