A gas explosion rocked a five-storey residential building in Tobolsk, triggering a fierce blaze that quickly spread from one apartment to the roof and several balconies. An eyewitness, Diana, told socialbites.ca that after the blast the house caught fire almost immediately. The initial flash was followed by a sound of shattering glass from windows in the neighboring building, and the street erupted with urgent calls for residents to evacuate. Diana recalled looking out her window and seeing flames first in a single apartment, then swallowing the roof area as the fire intensified. The fire department and emergency medical crews reached the scene within about ten minutes, and firefighting efforts began right away. As firefighters fought the blaze, the flames climbed to the roof and leapt to additional balconies, creating a rapidly expanding wall of fire. Diana observed a crying resident, a girl who appeared overwhelmed by the situation, moving through the area carrying a child or belongings and sobbing. The explosion itself was described as powerful, with windows in the opposite building shaking noticeably. This sequence of events painted a chaotic scene as responders worked to control the fire and assist those affected.
On the evening of October 1, local reporting from the Shot Telegram channel confirmed a gas explosion on Remezova Street in Tobolsk inside a five-storey apartment building. The channel described a gas-air mixture igniting on the fifth floor, setting off a rapid chain reaction that caused widespread alarm among residents. Authorities stated that three people were injured and more than 300 residents were evacuated from the building as a precautionary measure. The regional directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that the fire had been localized and that the affected area spanned about 800 square meters. This confinement helped firefighters to systematically target hotspots and prevent further spread while ensuring safe egress for displaced residents. The incident underscored the vulnerability of dense residential blocks to gas-related hazards and the importance of quick emergency response and clear evacuation procedures.
In a separate note, local authorities referenced a related incident in Krasnoyarsk where a five-storey residential building recently experienced a fire, illustrating that multi-story housing in the region faces similar risks. While the Tobolsk event prompted the evacuation of hundreds, the Krasnoyarsk case serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilant gas safety measures, regular maintenance checks, and efficient emergency planning across communities in the broader region. In both cases, emergency services emphasized the importance of swift action to save lives and minimize property loss, as well as the value of coordinating between fire departments, medical responders, and housing authorities to support affected families during the aftermath.