Russia apartment explosion: At least four dead and 68 missing after tower block collapses

At least four people have been killed and 68 are missing after an apparent gas explosion in an apartment building in Russia.

Five people have also been taken to hospital after the incident in the city of Magnitogorsk in the Ural Mountains region, about 870 miles south-east of Moscow.

The country’s top investigative agency, the Investigative Committee, said the collapse of a section of the ten-storey building was apparently caused by a gas leak.

It happened at about 6am on New Year’s Eve when most residents were sleeping.

Nearly 1,400 rescuers were searching for people who could have been buried under debris. Some 110 people live in the building.

Emergency workers have evacuated residents of nearby sections of the building, fearing they could also tumble down.

The Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the situation.

Gas explosions in Russian homes and businesses are common, and they are usually blamed on neglect of safety rules or poor maintenance.