Two children killed in a 300-meter-high fireball caused by a gas station explosion | World news

This is the harrowing moment a gas station exploded, sending a parked tanker truck crashing into a residential building in Chechnya, Russia.

Two children were among four people killed in Saturday’s incident in the Chechen capital Grozny, the Emergencies Ministry said.

Authorities said a fuel tank exploded at the station, resulting in a fire in which five other people were injured.

Local media reported that the four people who died were residents of the apartment block where the tanker hit.

The explosion happened on Mohammad Ali Avenue, near the center of Grozny and close to a college.

The images show a fireball erupting into the sky moments after the explosion.

Flames can be seen reaching up to 300 meters high, taller than surrounding buildings.

In the video, people who gathered near the station are seen fleeing the site of destruction.

The explosion reduced the gas station to mangled metal, while the fire continued to burn for hours afterward.

Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya, said in a statement on Telegram that he had taken personal control of the situation.

He said those responsible for the explosion would be brought to justice, but gave no further details.

Regional authorities said a criminal investigation had been opened.

Last month, an explosion at a gas station in neighboring Dagestan killed at least 13 people and injured 23 others.

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