At least three people have died and one has been injured in a gas explosion in a 12-storey apartment block in south Moscow, rescue services said on Friday.

"The fire [caused by the explosion] was extinguished at 12:43 p.m. Moscow time [9:43 a.m. GMT]. About 20 people were rescued from the roof and from inside the building," rescue services said. "The three deceased had jumped from the windows before firefighters arrived."

The evacuation effort was complicated by thick smoke, firefighters said. Rescue services said the fire covered an area of 80 square meters.
sections: Accidents, Region News
areas: Central region