Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on the household gas explosion in Astrakhan that resulted in the collapse of a block of flats.
Vladimir Putin instructed his subordinates to establish a government commission, chaired by Viktor Zubkov, to investigate the incident and provide emergency relief.
During the day, Vladimir Putin will hold a teleconference with the regional authorities and the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief.