CHECHNYA: Death toll from bomb blast rises to 52.

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

MOSCOW, May 13 2003 (IPS) - The death toll from a truck bomb explosion, which ripped through a government compound in Chechnya’s northern village of Znamenskoye on Monday, has reached 52, the press service of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reported.

According to the emergencies ministry, 86 people are in hospital, including 57 in critical condition. Twenty-three people were pulled alive from the debris. The search and rescue operation has been completed at the site of the terrorist act, the emergencies ministry reported. Rescue work there continued throughout the night and in the morning.

The powerful blast completely destroyed the two-story building housing the office of the Federal Security Service. It also seriously damaged several nearby buildings including residential houses.