2018 Magnitogorsk building collapse
{{short description|2018 apartment building collapse in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia}}
{{Old news|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
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| image = File:Взорвавшийся дом в Магнитогорске.png
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| image_alt = File:Взорвавшийся дом в Магнитогорске.png
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| time = 6:02 a.m. (Yekaterinburg Time)
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| coordinates = {{coord|53.3833|58.9768|region:RU_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| date = {{start date|df=yes|2018|12|31}}
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| location = Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia
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| type = Structural failure
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| cause = Explosion, officially due to a gas leak{{Cite web |title=Reports are still circulating that a deadly apartment collapse in Magnitogorsk was really a terrorist attack, but there are some problems with this story |url=https://meduza.io/en/slides/reports-are-still-circulating-that-a-deadly-apartment-collapse-in-magnitogorsk-was-really-a-terrorist-attack-but-there-are-some-problems-with-this-story |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=Meduza |language=en}}
| motive =Terrorism (alleged, unconfirmed){{Cite news |title=Online News Agency Says Magnitogorsk Blast, Which Killed 39, Was Terrorism, Not Gas Leak |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/baza-maganitogorsk-russia-explosion-terror-gas-leak/30348625.html |access-date=2022-10-25 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=28 December 2019 |language=en|last1=Prince |first1=Todd }}
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| organisers = {{flagicon image|AQMI_Flag_asymmetric.svg}} Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (claimed responsibility, unconfirmed){{Cite news |date=2019-01-18 |title=Russia dismisses Islamic State claim for deadly explosion |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cnews-us-russia-building-collapse-idCAKCN1PC0MI-OCATP |access-date=2022-10-25}}
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| reported injuries = 17 (4 hospitalised and 13 released after first aid treatment){{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20181231/1548951973.html|title=Один из пострадавших в Магнитогорске находится в крайне тяжелом состоянии|date=31 December 2018|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|access-date=3 January 2019}}
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On 31 December 2018, at approximately 6:02 a.m. local time, an apartment block in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, partially collapsed. The collapse killed 39 people and injured 17 more. The cause of the collapse is believed to have been a gas explosion.{{r|Интерфакс}}
Background
The 10-story high-rise apartment block, located at 164 Prospekt Karla Marksa, built in 1973, holds 623 units, being a type 1-439A building with 12 staircases. The collapse took place on the 7th staircase and destroyed or damaged 48 units which together housed 110 people, of whom 95 were believed to have been in the building at the time of the collapse.{{cite web |last1=MacFarquhar |first1=Neil |title=7 Dead and Dozens Missing in Russia Building Collapse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/world/europe/russia-building-collapse.html |website=The New York Times |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}}{{cite web |title=At Least Four Killed, Dozens Missing After Explosion At Russia High-Rise |url=https://www.rferl.org/amp/at-least-three-people-die-in-apartment-collapse-in-russia-s-magnitogorsk/29685057.html |website=RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}}
Cause
The collapse is believed to have been caused by a gas explosion. Russian investigators said reports of explosive traces in the rubble were untrue. Based on "unnamed and unverified" sources, the Znak website wrote that the blast came from the second floor where a suspect was keeping explosives to use to attack local businesses.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/magnitogorsk-russian-investigators-deny-explosives-caused-building-collapse|title=Russian investigators deny explosives caused deadly building blast|first=Marc|last=Bennetts|newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 January 2019|publisher=|accessdate=3 January 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}}
Response
After the collapse, the building was evacuated.{{cite web |title=Russia: Dozens missing after deadly apartment collapse {{!}} Russia News {{!}} Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/russia-dozens-missing-deadly-apartment-collapse-181231094035213.html |website=Al Jazeera |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}} Officials warned that more of the apartment complex was at risk of collapsing.{{cite web |last1=Talmazan |first1=Yuliya |title=4 dead, dozens missing after explosion at Russian apartment block |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna953211 |website=NBC News |publisher=NBC |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}}
The daytime temperature at the site was {{cvt|-17|°C}}, and {{cvt|-24|°C}} at night. Nearly 1,400 rescue workers helped to free residents from the rubble, and used high-powered heaters to warm people still trapped under the debris.{{cite web |last1=Isachenkov |first1=Vladimir |title=Russia: 4 dead in apartment collapse, apparent gas explosion |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-dead-apartment-collapse-apparent-gas-explosion-60087333 |website=ABC News |publisher=ABC |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}}
Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the site of the collapse to survey the damage and observe the rescue efforts. He also visited injured residents in the hospital. In a statement he said, "Despite the holiday season, we need to spare a thought for those who perished and those who were injured."
- {{cite web |title=Russian apartment building partially collapses, killing 4 and leaving dozens missing {{!}} CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-apartment-tower-collapse-1.4962186 |website=CBC |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}}
- {{cite web |title=At least 4 dead in apartment building collapse in Russia – National {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4803618/russia-building-collapse-gas-explosion/ |website=Global News |publisher=The Canadian Press |accessdate=1 January 2019 |language=en |date=31 December 2018}}
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, a native of the town, paid tribute to the victims of the disaster in the Penguins' game against the New York Rangers on January 2, 2019. His skates bore Russian phrases translating to, "Magnitogorsk, we are with you," and, "Magnitogorsk, you are in my heart." He scored a goal which he dedicated to the town, having hoped prior to the game that he would do so. Following the game, Malkin stated that the team will raise funds for the victims and their families.{{Cite web |url=https://triblive.com/sports/penguins/14462993-74/penguins-evgeni-malkin-shows-support-for-explosion-victims-in-his-hometown |title=Penguins' Evgeni Malkin shows support for explosion victims in his hometown |last=Bombulie |first=Jonathan |date=2 January 2019 |website=TribLive |access-date=3 January 2019}} He donated RU₽4,000,000, the equivalent of almost US$60,000, to a relief fund for the victims, with the rest of the team soon to contribute donations they have collected.{{Cite web |url=https://triblive.com/sports/penguins/14485689-74/penguins-evgeni-malkin-makes-donation-to-victims-of-apartment-explosion-in-his |title=Penguins' Evgeni Malkin makes donation to victims of apartment explosion in his hometown |last=Bombulie |first=Jonathan |date=January 9, 2019 |website=TribLive |access-date=January 11, 2019}}
See also
{{Portal|Russia}}
- List of accidents and disasters by death toll
- List of explosions
- List of 21st-century explosions
- List of structural failures and collapses
- 2012 Astrakhan gas explosion, killed 10 residents of an apartment building.
- Ronan Point