At least 13 people died when a Russian warplane over a Russian city on the Sea of Azov after experiencing engine trouble on Monday, three of them perished when they jumped from high levels of a nine-story apartment building to escape a huge fire.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a Su-34 bomber crashed in the coastal city of Yeysk after one of its engines caught fire as it was taking off for a training mission. According to the report, both crew members safely ejected from the aircraft, but when it struck a residential neighbourhood, tonnes of fuel detonated, starting a fire.
Authorities reported that 13 people, including three children, had been discovered dead after sifting through the burned-out remains of the structure for hours. 19 more people were injured and were hospitalised.
According to the RIA-Novosti news agency, the vice governor of the area, Anna Menkova, said that three of the four victims perished when they jumped from the building’s upper stories in an effort to escape the flames.
READ ALSO: Uganda Declared A Three-week Lockdown In Two Districts Due To Ebola
Emergency rooms at nearby hospitals were scheduled, and medical helicopters were dispatched by the authorities. More than 500 residents received temporary housing after being evacuated.
According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed of the crash and sent the local governor, along with the ministers of health and emergencies, to the scene. The 90,000-person city of Yeysk is home to a sizable Russian air base.
A jet was seen exploding in a massive fireball in surveillance camera videos shared on Russian chat app channels. Other videos showed a burning residential building and loud explosions that appeared to be the warplane’s missiles detonating.
The Su-34 is a supersonic twin-engine bomber that has served as a crucial strike element of the Russian air force. It is outfitted with modern sensors and armaments. The Syrian conflict and the War in Ukraine have both seen extensive deployment of the aircraft.
Since Moscow dispatched its soldiers into Ukraine on February 24, there have been 10 documented non-combat crashes involving Russian warplanes. This mishap happened on Monday. According to military specialists, crashes rose substantially along with the number of Russian military planes during the war.
