A gas explosion in Engels sparked a major fire in a nine-story building on Poltava Street, eyewitnesses reported. Residents described a powerful blast that sent a window glass flying 30 to 40 meters from its frame and illuminated the night sky with smoke that climbed above the fifth floor.
In the moments after the explosion, neighbors woke to the sudden roar of the blast. One resident recalled looking out and seeing broken glass scattered far from the window, followed by clear signs of a severe blaze. A woman on a balcony reportedly cried for help before the scene went quiet again, and it was unclear whether she had escaped. Within 5 to 10 minutes, emergency medical services arrived, but responders from the Ministry of Emergencies were delayed, arriving roughly 20 minutes after the first medical units reached the scene. The fire, described as intense, began to threaten adjacent apartments and even reached the third floor as the flames spread. The inferno was eventually contained, though the explosion originated on the fifth floor and created a dense plume that darkened everything above it. A friend of one resident noted that the building shook in the early hours, a sign many tenants felt across the structure.
Another witness, Andrei, reported that a woman was injured during the blaze after she jumped from the fifth to the third floor and managed to cling there as flames surged around her. He shared footage captured by a fire department with ladders and noted the woman remained on the third floor, now in serious condition as she was treated for injuries sustained in the fall and exposure to the flames.
At approximately 4:31 a.m., residents described a powerful explosion that brought the entire building to a tremor and set off nearby sirens. Officials indicated the incident stemmed from a gas leak, with the fire following shortly after. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, achieving control around 5:00 a.m. Two bystanders were reported injured, including a woman and a man aged 53 and 56. The fire’s aftermath saw a man and a woman taken to medical facilities for serious burns and injuries related to smoke inhalation and trauma, with authorities detailing third-degree burns and shock as part of the injuries.
Earlier reports confirmed the location as Poltava Street in Engels, noting that the explosion occurred on the fifth floor of a nine-story residential building and that a fire spread to an adjacent apartment before crews could fully suppress it.
Regional health authorities confirmed two hospitalizations connected to the incident, citing thermo-inhalation injuries and contusion trauma, with severe burns and shock documented for the injured individuals. Local officials continued to monitor the situation and advised residents to stay away from affected areas while teams assessed structural safety and ongoing air quality concerns. Inquiries into the exact sequence of events and the timing of emergency responses were ongoing, with investigators expected to review security systems and gas lines to determine the cause and prevent a recurrence. The community remained concerned for residents displaced by the fire as authorities prioritized shelter, food, and medical needs for those affected.
[Citation: Regional Health Ministry] [Citation: Emergency Services Directorate] [Citation: City Fire Department]