Russia Gas Explosion: Fate of 79 people was unclear with police working to locate their whereabouts.MOSCOW: Four people were killed and nearly 70 unaccounted for after a gas explosion tore through a residential building in Russia on Monday, leaving hundreds without a home in freezing temperatures on New Year's Eve.A large section of building collapsed after a gas explosion around 6am local time at high-rise in industrial city of Magnitogorsk, nearly 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) east of Moscow in Ural mountains.Four people were confirmed dead and another four, including two children, were hospitalised, officials said, citing latest information.Sixteen people including seven children have been evacuated. The whereabouts of 28 people have been established but fate of nearly 70 was unclear.

National television said some 50 people could be trapped under rubble.National television broadcast footage of rescue workers combing through mangled heaps of concrete and metal in temperatures of minus 18 Celsius (minus 0.4 F). Temperatures in Magnitogorsk were expected to plunge to minus 23 Celsius on New Year's night, biggest holiday of year in Russia.Officials warned that two more sections of Soviet-era high-rise on Karl Marx Street were in danger of collapsing.Local resident Anna Koroleva told Echo of Moscow radio that explosion shattered windows of nearby buildings.The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been "immediately notified of tragedy in Magnitogorsk". 'Common tragedy'Located in mineral-rich southern Ural region, Magnitogorsk, with a population of more than 400,000 people, is home to one of country's largest steel producers.The high-rise was built in 1973 and was home to around 1,100 people.

Residents were evacuated to a nearby school.Volunteers offered money, clothing and essentials to victims, and some said they were ready to provide temporary shelter to those in need.Regional governor Boris Dubrovsky said authorities planned to buy apartments for people who had lost their homes.Staff from local Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK), one of country's largest steelmakers, took part in rescue operation.Billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, who controls plant, called on city residents to help victims. "This is our common tragedy and pain," he said in a statement, adding that MMK would provide financial assistance to those in need.Investigators opened a criminal probe into accident, with FSB security service confirming blast had been result of a gas explosion.Such deadly gas explosions are relatively common in Russia where much of infrastructure dates back to Soviet era and safety requirements are often ignored. (Except for headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)