Gas explosion rocks Russian apartment

Nov 09,2007 00:00 by UPI

MOSCOW -- A gas explosion in a 12-story apartment building killed at least three people and injured another in an area in southern Moscow, rescue officials said Friday.

"The fire was extinguished at 12:43 p.m. Moscow time. About 20 people were rescued from the roof and from inside the building," rescue services said in RIA Novosti. "The three deceased had jumped from the windows before firefighters arrived."

Thick smoke complicated rescue efforts, officials said.