A gas explosion struck an apartment on the third floor of house number 5 on Kuznetsova Street in Yaroslavl. The incident was reported by 76.RU, with residents recalling a loud blast around 6:30 Moscow time.
The blast left a 40-year-old tenant named Alexei Tarakanovsky seriously burned, with more than seventy percent of his body surface affected. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. A neighbor described the moment after the door was opened, noting severe burns and an immediate response to shut off the gas supply. The force of the explosion caused the apartment walls to collapse, damaged the floor and ceiling, and flooded the kitchen with water and debris.
A woman living in a neighboring unit was also admitted to hospital. One neighbor who spoke to reporters mentioned a pregnant woman in the building who might be affected, expressing concern for Tanya, who was in her final trimester and lived nearby. The regional health ministry later confirmed that a 90-year-old woman was hospitalized after her health deteriorated under stress from the incident.
The governor of the Yaroslavl region, Mikhail Evraev, attributed the explosion to the unauthorized operation of gas equipment during an interview. He noted that other apartments in building 5 remained untouched and that additional checks would be conducted. An eyewitness later suggested the explosion could have resulted from smoking in an apartment with an open gas source. TASS cited a source from emergency services saying the gas stove malfunction appeared to be the root cause, a point echoed by investigators.
Authorities confirmed that the malfunction of the gas stove was the identified cause of the explosion in the apartment.
Residents of the three-story building were evacuated to the Torpedo sports complex, a temporary housing site, while some people chose to remain at the scene. A resident described seeing the event unfold through social media and rushing to the area, noting chaos and the removal of gas from the building’s first entrance on the third floor. The Investigative Committee of the Yaroslavl Region opened a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code, which concerns unsafe practices that fail to meet health and safety standards for consumers. The case was soon upgraded to a more serious article after initial findings.
Following a crime scene investigation, investigators determined that at least one occupant of the building was seriously injured. As a result, the case was reclassified to Paragraph C of Part 2 of Article 238, reflecting negligent actions causing grievous bodily harm. District authorities will review the building’s condition and decide on subsequent steps. Governor Evraev pledged continued support and stated that all necessary assistance would be provided to residents.
Estimated damage covered approximately 100 square meters of space, according to local press. The roof of one apartment suffered severe damage, and emergency workers removed burned items and debris from the affected area. Repairs to the roof have already begun to stabilize the building and prevent further harm.