MOSCOW, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and three others injured after a gas explosion sparked a fire in an apartment building in Lobnya, a town near Moscow, on Thursday, local authorities said.
The explosion occurred on the third floor of the building, bringing down walls between apartments and sparking a fire covering about 10 square meters, according to the regional department of Russia's Investigative Committee.
Fifteen people, including three children, were evacuated from the building. The fire has been extinguished.
Investigators have opened a criminal case into the fire under a statute concerning causing death by negligence. ■
