Murmansk residents describe escape after gas fire on Askoldovtsev Street
People wait for permission to return to their apartments
In Murmansk on January 28, a gas pipeline caught fire on Askoldovtsev Street. Residents began to be evacuated from nearby houses. A temporary accommodation point was organized for people at the Cultural Development Center at 39 Askoldovtsev Street. 51.RU correspondent Dmitry Artyomenko visited the scene and spoke with eyewitnesses.
Volunteers assist people at the scene
Natalya Alexandrovna, a resident of one of the houses, was in her apartment at the time of the incident—she had returned from a night shift and gone to sleep. According to her, first there was a bang, after which flames appeared outside the window.
The woman said that several more bangs followed. «Then another bang, another cylinder exploded. Then a third exploded,» she added. After that, the residents decided it was dangerous to stay in their apartments and began to go outside.
According to Natalya Alexandrovna, the residents were not evacuated—they made the decision to leave the house on their own.
«I say, we need to get ready, run outside. That»s it, we gathered and went outside,« she says. The woman also noted that there was a car with gas equipment nearby, and people were afraid of a possible explosion.
After leaving the house, residents were not allowed back in. People stayed outside for some time, after which they were offered to go to the temporary accommodation point to warm up. Evacuees said they were promised to be informed later about when they could return to their apartments.
Our correspondent also managed to speak with residents of the neighboring building, number 22. Two women said they were at home at the time of the incident and quickly took minimal belongings before leaving their apartments on their own. Another woman was informed about the incident by phone—her car was parked near the site of the fire.
At the temporary accommodation point, according to Dmitry Artyomenko, the situation is calm. People have been placed in a warm room, and volunteers are working on site. Some arrived with their pets. Residents say the conditions at the accommodation point are normal and they are waiting for further information. About 15 people are in the center«s lobby.
Recall that the governor of Murmansk Oblast stated that there is currently no threat of an explosion. At the temporary accommodation point, medics and psychologists are on duty.
Residents will return to their homes when specialists are confident of safety. All current information about the emergency is being collected in our online broadcast.
