Putin orders to provide assistance to victims of household gas blast in Rostov Region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has handed down instructions to provide full assistance to those affected by a household gas explosion in the city of Shakhty, Rostov region, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

"The head of state has received a telephone report from Rostov Region Governor Vasily Golubev about the current situation and the measures being taken at the site," the statement reads. "Putin instructed the regional governor to provide full assistance to those affected," the Kremlin press service said.

"The president also instructed Russian Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin to thoroughly investigate the causes of the explosion," the press service added.

According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, a gas and air mixture exploded on the ninth floor of a residential building in Shakhty, killing one. Seven people were rescued alive but four are still unaccounted for. The explosion damaged four apartments on the ninth and eighth floors. A total of 140 people have been evacuated from the 72-apartment building.

A search and rescue operation involving about 120 people and 35 pieces of equipment is being carried out at the site.