A massive explosion at a gas station in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan has killed 30 people and injured scores more.

Russia’s Emergency Ministry reported on Tuesday that a total of 105 people were injured, and 30 of them died.

Three of those killed were children, Dagestan’s governor Sergei Melikov said.

The explosion took place on Monday night (local time) on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the region’s capital.

A fire started at a car repair shop and spread to a nearby gas station, prompting a blast, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the country’s Emergency Ministry. The subsequent fire raged on an area of 600 square meters, the report said.

Some of those injured will be airlifted to Moscow for treatment, according to the report.

Russian authorities have begun a criminal investigation.

Families of the victims will receive about US$10,000 (NZ$16k) each, Dagestan’s authorities said, and those injured – US$2-4k.

Tuesday in Dagestan has been declared a day of mourning.

Across Russia, in western Siberia, another blast killed two people and wounded five more on Monday night. The explosion occurred at an oil mine in the Khanty-Mansiysk region late in the evening, local authorities said.

Source: With Agencies