At least two dead, several others injured in gas explosion in Russia

MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least two people died and several others were injured after a gas explosion rocked an apartment building in Russian city of Magnitogorsk in the Ural Mountains, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

According the the statement, 10 people have been rescued from the debris. and 16 people have been evacuated from the building.

The explosion occurred at around 1:00 a.m. GMT on Monday. Part of the 10-story apartment building collapsed in the blast.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been immediately informed about the tragedy, according to the president's press office.