Magnitogorsk Apartment Building Collapses on New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, a 10-story building in the Siberian city of Magnitogorsk, near Russia's Ural Mountains, collapsed. The death toll currently stands at 37 and is expected to continue to rise. Four people are currently missing, thought to have been in the building. Of the confirmed dead, six were children. Six children, including an infant, were rescued from the rubble.

Russian authorities are investigating the collapse - the primary theory is a natural-gas explosion.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that multiple sources have raised speculation that the cause was less accidental, and perhaps terrorist related. 

Znak.com and regional news website 74.ru linked the building collapse with a van fire several hours later approxiamtely 3 kilometers from the site, that left three people dead. "74.ru cited unnamed law enforcement sources as saying that the occupants of the vehicle were suspects who were being sought by police, possibly in connection with the building blast and collapse," says RFE/RL.

Investigative Committee Director Aleksandr Bastrykin has appointed an investigative team of approximately 100 officials to look into the incident. In a January 1 statement, Russia's Federal Investigative Committee said that no signs of explosives have been found.

By Samantha Guthrie

Photo: Russia Civil Defense Ministry (Reuters)