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At Least 2 Are Killed in Collapse at Russian Barracks At Least 2 Are Killed in Collapse at Russian Barracks
(about 2 hours later)
MOSCOW — A concrete military barracks partly collapsed on Sunday, killing at least two people at a training center in south-central Russia and trapping more than two dozen others in rubble, the Defense Ministry said. MOSCOW — A concrete military barracks partly collapsed on Sunday, killing at least two people at a training center in south-central Russia and trapping more than two dozen others in rubble, the Defense Ministry said.
At least 19 people had been rescued by late Sunday night, officials said.At least 19 people had been rescued by late Sunday night, officials said.
The barracks, a four-story concrete rectangle flanked by identical buildings, housed military personnel at the 242nd Airborne Training Center in Omsk, a regional capital in southwest Siberia about 70 miles from the border with Kazakhstan.The barracks, a four-story concrete rectangle flanked by identical buildings, housed military personnel at the 242nd Airborne Training Center in Omsk, a regional capital in southwest Siberia about 70 miles from the border with Kazakhstan.
Photographs of the scene showed a jagged gash at the center of the barracks, with the roof appearing to have collapsed through at least three of four floors.Photographs of the scene showed a jagged gash at the center of the barracks, with the roof appearing to have collapsed through at least three of four floors.
The cause was unclear. Russian news agencies reported that there had been no explosion. The Interfax news agency reported that the building had undergone extensive renovations within the past two years.The cause was unclear. Russian news agencies reported that there had been no explosion. The Interfax news agency reported that the building had undergone extensive renovations within the past two years.
The government responded forcefully, deploying a search-and-rescue team of 150 soldiers as well as canine units. The defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, interrupted his vacation to monitor the situation and officials said he was providing regular briefings to President Vladimir V. Putin. The governor of Omsk, Viktor Nazarov, was at the scene, in a village called Svetloe. Military prosecutors also were sent there to investigate, Interfax reported. The government responded forcefully, deploying a search-and-rescue team of 150 soldiers as well as canine units. The defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, interrupted his vacation to monitor the situation, and officials said he was providing regular briefings to President Vladimir V. Putin. The governor of Omsk, Viktor Nazarov, was at the scene, in the village of Svetloe. Military prosecutors also were sent there to investigate, Interfax reported.
The Russian military has been in a state of heightened alert since the invasion and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last year. Russian airborne units had pivotal roles in Crimea and have been part of Russia’s military activities connected to the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied sending any troops to Ukraine.The Russian military has been in a state of heightened alert since the invasion and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last year. Russian airborne units had pivotal roles in Crimea and have been part of Russia’s military activities connected to the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied sending any troops to Ukraine.