Gas explosion in Vladikavkaz was caused by improper use or defective equipment, experts say

Eyewitnesses of the blast that occurred at a wedding party in Vladikavkaz on June 25 say that the explosion was strong and totally unexpected. Experts believe that the cause of the incident could be in improper use or defective gas cylinder.
The total number of victims of the blast is 55, including 6 children; the condition of 20 of them is grave.

"We all came to the wedding party; relatives arrived aiming to congratulate the young couple – and suddenly a huge explosion occurred. It was so strong that we couldn't understand at first what had happened. People were running around the yard, burning and screaming, asking to pour water on them. I was thrown back by the blast wave; my trousers and shirt were burnt," said Vladimir Bagaev, an eyewitness of the explosion, whose wife was severely injured and is currently treated at the burn ward of the hospital in Vladikavkaz.

According to his story, gas cylinders were full of gas; and the one, which was closest to the stove, where it was very hot, blew up. "It was horrible. The flame rose high; all the windows were broken," he said.

Fatima Gurdzibeeva was also at that wedding. Her brothers and sisters were hurt, but especially her father, who is currently under intensive care. "I was inside the house and didn't see how it all happened. In the small yard there were three gas cylinders. When the blast happened, I saw a wave of fire, a complete mess and people running around in fire" she said. She believes the reason was in misuse of gas cylinders.

All these days relatives of the victims are in hospitals in Vladikavkaz, trying to find out the condition of the victims, as well as the prospects of their transportation for further treatment at clinics in Moscow and St Petersburg. Doctors let nobody into the burn wards. According to Elbrus Fidarov, Head of the Public Health Department of Vladikavkaz, the state of the patients is stably grave.