Lugansk city hospital collapsed as a result of explosion
19:36, 18 January 2010
KIEV. January 18. KAZINFORM The Lugansk city hospital has collapsed as a result of an explosion on Monday. Two people were found dead, the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry for Emergency Situations said. The causes of the explosion are being established, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
Preliminary reports said it was an explosion of oxygen balloons kept on the fourth floor of the hospital building. Ceiling supports collapsed on the second, third and fourth floors of the five-storied hospital building.
The Ukrainian Cabinet has set up an extraordinary commission to investigate the circumstances of the explosion. Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko is ready to go the site of the explosion by air, the press service of the Ukrainian government said.
Reports about the number of casualties are being specified. There were 256 patients and 50 hospital personnel inside the building when the explosion went off, Kaznform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.