Explosion in Chisinau sector might be caused by gas tank, according to preliminary version

Chisinau, 07 October /MOLDPRES/ – The deflagration produced on 06 October night in a residential building in Chisinau municipality would have been caused, according to preliminary info, by a gas tank. As a result of explosion, 03 persons lost their lives and another 10 were traumatised. The affected persons will be provided with temporary housing places. The authorities will examine the possibility of granting financial aid to the ones which have suffered.

On 07 October morning, PM Pavel Filip convened the meeting of the Commission for Emergency Situations (CSE). The PM said that the priority is now to provide healthcare for the ones affected and provide them with temporary living places. Also, Pavel Filip specified to be necessary to develop an authorised technical expertise of the block under deflagration.

The head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), Mihail Harabagiu, said after the meeting that the specialists found a gas tank on the 16th floor and its tap was open. According to Harabagiu, the deflagration took place on the 16th floor and there were affected some of flats on the 13th – 18th floors, and the floors are collapsed from the 14th – 17th floors. On site, firefighters and rescuers take measures to stabilise the walls and balconies. Harabagiu specified that other persons might be supposed to be under the rubble, but for the time being there are no steps taken to extract and evacuate the corpses, as this could endanger the rescuers working on the 17th – 18th floors.

The head of the General Police Inspectorate (PGI), Alexandru Panzari, said police officers at the site set the list of the persons staying in the block – of – flats. According to preliminary data, a woman from the 15th floor was not found and another woman, alongside with her 4-year-old son on the 17th floor.

Minister of Healthcare, Social Protection and Family, Silvia Radu, said that out of 10 traumatised persons, 01 man died, and 02 others were hospitalised, while the rest received medical treatment and refused hospitalisation.

Deputy Mayor, Nistor Grozavu, said that around 200 persons live in the block affected by the explosion. Out of those, about 20 flood victims, there were accommodated in the gym of hospital Holy Trinity. Many affected persons went to friends or relatives.

At the meeting of the Commission for Emergency Situations it was mentioned that until now there are no normative acts that would regulate the use of gas tanks and liquefied gas in households.

After the meeting of the Commission for Exceptional Situations, the Premier, accompanied by several Commissioners, went to the deflagration site. He said that persons who have lost their acts after the explosion could restore them for free.

(Reporter N. Sandu, editor L. Alcaza)