MAKHACHKALA. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Emergency measures launched in the wake of the explosion in Makhachkala have been completed, head of Dagestan Sergei Melikov said.
"The situation in our city has now stabilized. In fact, we have already moved forward from the immediate measures launched to deal with the aftermath [of the emergency]. We completed them yesterday. Today we are shifting to systemic measures to be implemented by the authorities, agencies and officials who are in charge of this," Melikov told reporters.
The emergency services acted promptly and competently on the day of the tragedy, he said.
"Had it not been for the work of the emergency services, rescuers, medics and the police, the number of victims could have been much higher. In fact, they prevented this," Melikov said.
Melikov separately thanked Emergency Situations Ministry teams and rescuers. Plans to present them with awards, including state awards for their heroism and courage as they responded to the emergency, are being discussed, he said.
A fire broke out on Monday at an auto repair shop, located at the intersection of Novokuli and the federal highway in Makhachkala, during car maintenance work and then spread to a nearby room which was a storage area for a highly flammable fertilizer, consequently leading to an explosion. The fire then spread to a nearby gas station.
Thirty-five people including three children were killed and another 84 were injured in the incident. Nearby buildings and passing vehicles were damaged.