On the evening of October 28, a powerful explosion was heard in a residential high-rise on Ternopil Street in Khmelnytskyi. Initially, a household gas mixture might have exploded, but other versions are also being considered, including the detonation of an unknown object. The explosion caused extensive destruction, and some residents had to be evacuated. This is reported by the Telegram channel “Real Khmelnytskyi”.
Rescue operations and those affected by the explosion in the apartment building on October 28
Rescue work at the scene lasted all night. According to the State Emergency Service, two bodies were found under the rubble - a woman born in 1973 and a man born in 1983. Five more people, including a child, sustained injuries of varying severity.
A total of nine apartments were destroyed, and another fifteen were damaged. 32 residents require temporary relocation; the city authorities have prepared shelter for them at an invincibility point.
Explosion versions: gas or unknown object
Initially, rescuers reported a possible household gas explosion. However, the head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration, Serhii Tiuryn, emphasized that there are still no final conclusions:
«We are considering all versions - from a gas leak to an explosion of a certain explosive object. A final decision will be made after the examination».
Gas service workers have not yet been allowed access to the destroyed building. No applications from residents regarding gas leaks have been received over the past year. According to preliminary data, the epicenter of the explosion could be on the fifth floor.
What is known now
As of the morning of October 29, search and rescue operations have been completed, and the dismantling of emergency structures continues. At the invincibility point, the city council is receiving citizens who were affected.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for forensic examination, and investigators and experts are working on determining the exact cause of the explosion.