Moscow reports at least two dead in an explosion on the bridge that connects the Crimean peninsula with Russia
The governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Viacheslav Gladkov, assured this Monday that at least two citizens residing in this province died in the “emergency” that took place this morning on the Crimean bridge, while a girl was injured. The governor explained that they are a couple and their daughter, who suffered “moderate” injuries and will be transported immediately to Belgorod when doctors allow. “In recent days we have been sending our children to camps in Crimea”, explained Gladkov, who wanted to reassure parents by stating that “nothing threatens the lives” of these minors.
Sergei Axiónov, governor of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, reported an “emergency” on the Kerch bridge on Monday after hearing at least two explosions and later detecting damage to the road. “Traffic was suspended on the Crimean bridge: an emergency occurred in the area of the [pilar de] support 145 of the Krasnodar Territory,” he indicated on his Telegram channel.
Russia’s Transport Ministry acknowledged that there was “road damage on sections of the Crimean Bridge” linking the occupied peninsula with Russia, but that the pillars were intact, according to the TASS news agency.
Media outlets such as Telegram channel Astra have previously said that a section of the bridge fell after at least two explosions were heard, according to residents. Several locals said they heard two explosions at around 00:04 and 00:20 GMT, according to their comments on Russian social network VKontakte.
In October last year, a truck loaded with explosives exploded on the bridge, considered the longest in Europe at 19 kilometers and spearheaded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was described by Russia as a terrorist attack organized by Ukraine. Five people died in the attack. (Eph)