The confirmed death toll from the gas explosion that damaged a residential building entrance in Nizhny Tagil has risen to 20 people, including nine children. This update comes from the Sverdlovsk regional health ministry via its Telegram channel. The ministry also reports that 11 patients, among them five children, were transported to hospitals in Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Tagil for ongoing care and observation. Several others were evaluated on site, with five individuals declining hospital care and receiving treatment on an outpatient basis where appropriate.
The incident occurred when two entrances of a five-story building located at Sibirskaya Street, number 81, in the Vagonka microdistrict collapsed on August 1 after a gas-air mixture explosion. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Dzerzhinsky district, where the building is situated, to coordinate rescue operations and assess structural safety. The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case related to the provision of services or work that failed to meet required standards, reflecting the seriousness of the failure and the need for accountability in the wake of the incident.
In parallel, officials note that a separate fatality occurred earlier at a gas production facility in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise causes and to identify any contributing factors that may have led to multiple tragedies in quick succession. Emergency services, medical teams, and local authorities continue to work together to support victims, secure the site, and implement inspections aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future. Community members are urged to stay clear of the affected area until it is deemed safe, and to follow official guidance issued by regional authorities and law enforcement agencies as the situation develops.