Powerful explosion rocks Russia's Vladikavkaz, black smoke rises over city VIDEO / UPDATED

The number of people injured in the explosion in Vladikavkaz has risen to eight, according to SHOT.

Six victims have been hospitalised at the Republican Clinical Hospital, while another has been admitted to the Emergency Medical Care Hospital. Among the injured is a child, who is currently being transferred to a paediatric clinical hospital.

The fireworks store where the explosion occurred in Vladikavkaz had reportedly been issued multiple warnings over violations of fire safety regulations. According to reports, all pyrotechnic materials were stored in an improperly equipped area, prompting repeated warnings to the owners.

14:08

Four people were injured in a powerful explosion in the centre of Vladikavkaz, SHOT said.

The injured include employees of a fireworks store where the fire is reported to have started. The building’s structures were also partially destroyed in the blast.

According to initial reports, the explosion was caused by the detonation of fireworks. Construction materials warehouses are located in close proximity to the epicentre of the incident.

Evacuation of nearby buildings has begun in the area surrounding the explosion site.

Residents are being moved to basements or instructed to leave the danger zone as quickly as possible. Among those evacuated are employees of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

All four injured individuals have been hospitalised, with one reported to be in serious condition.

Dozens of vehicles parked near a fireworks store in Partizansky Lane have also been damaged in the aftermath of the explosion.

13:50

A powerful explosion has been reported in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s North Ossetia region, Telegram channel Mash said.

Preliminary reports indicate that a fireworks warehouse on Augustovskikh Sobytiy Street exploded.

Eyewitnesses described the blast as extremely loud, after which a dense column of black smoke rose to an estimated height of around 30 metres.

Following the explosion, a building on Augustovskikh Sobytiy Street has been partially destroyed, according to initial reports.

The blast reportedly occurred on the premises of a construction materials warehouse belonging to the company “HDM,” with a fireworks store located in close proximity.

In the aftermath, concrete slabs and fragments were scattered across an area spanning dozens of metres around the site of the explosion. Debris also damaged approximately ten vehicles parked nearby.

By Vafa Guliyeva