A devastating explosion at a petrol station in the Sulevkent village of Dagestan, Russia, on Friday resulted in the death of at least four people and injured several others. The blast, which local authorities say was triggered by a depressurized gas cylinder, set off a chain reaction that blew up several other cylinders and fuel pumps. The immense force of the explosion flattened the entire petrol station, a nearby service center, and even adjacent food stalls.
Footage of the terrifying incident, which has gone viral online, shows a massive fireball erupting into the sky as frightened people ran for their lives. This incident marks the third petrol station explosion in Dagestan in the past two years.
A Pattern of Tragedy
This recent tragedy is part of a disturbing trend in the region. In 2023, a massive blast at a gas station on the outskirts of Dagestan’s capital, Makhachkala, killed 35 people and injured 115 others, including three children. The 2023 explosion was caused by a fire that started at a nearby car repair service and spread to the gas station. Another similar incident in September 2024 claimed the lives of 13 people at a petrol station in the same republic.
Following the latest explosion, Dagestan prosecutors have launched a probe into the incident. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, has also initiated a criminal case. These recurrent tragedies have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in Dagestan, a republic that shares borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan, since 2023.