An explosion and a fire have been reported in the Alania Mall shopping center in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus region of North Ossetia, an emergency official told TASS.
"At least one person was killed," he said.
Regional head Sergey Menyailo, in turn, said that the blast had killed a woman inside the building. According to emergency services, nine people suffered injuries in the fire.
The authorities specified that there had been no customers at the mall at the time of the explosion so only personnel and passers-by had been affected.
According to the emergency official, the fire has engulfed 800 square meters on the third floor and the roof. The blaze has been categorized as a three-alarm fire.
