A fourth victim has been found in a collapsed building in Astrakhan, ITAR-TASS reports.
Two Il-76 planes of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies carrying rescuers and medics have arrived in Astrakhan.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin demanded people responsible for control of gas systems at the collapsed building to be dismissed. He asked Minister for Emergencies Sergey Shygu whether the blast was caused by a gas container or local gas leakage.
Governor of Astrakhan Region Alexander Zhilkin told the prime minister that local housing and utilities services and Gasservice exploited the gas networks.
Astrakhan administration offered people new accommodation, Zhlkin said at a video conference with Putin. He added that people who lost their homes will be given 1 million rubles. The police are controlling access to other parts of the building.
Putin ordered Vice Premier Victor Zubkov to supervise the process. Zubkov recommended inhabitants of 54 apartments to be moved.
The prime minister ordered the Ministry for Healthcare and Social Development and Finances Ministry to prepare compensations for the inhabitants. Deputy Minister for Healthcare and Social Development Maksim Topilin said that 100,000 rubles will be paid for loss of all property an 50,000 rubles for partial loss.
Putin requested Deputy Finances Minister Alexander Novak to calculate the sums of compensations and for new accommodation.
