Russia: Search and rescue operation continues at collapse site

An operation to save people trapped under rubble following the partial collapse of a residential tower block is continuing in Magnitogorsk on Monday.

According to the local EMERCOM, up to 40 people are still believed to be trapped. Seven people have been confirmed dead, while five survivors have been pulled from the debris.

"There was a very large bang at 6 in the morning, we ran into the kitchen to see, saw purple smoke and the building slowly began to collapse. The shock wave was so strong that the bed shook I don’t know how it didn’t blow our windows out," local resident Kristina Petrova said.

At about 6 AM local time (1 AM GMT) on Monday an entire section of a 10-storey tower block in Magnitogorsk collapsed, causing dozens to be trapped under debris in freezing conditions.

According to the local governor, 50 people were in the building at the time it collapsed. According to the Chelyabinsk Region administration, seven children are thought to still be trapped under debris.

According to a report from the Federal Security Service, a gas leak is the likely cause of the explosion.

KD