High-rise blast, fire kill three people in Moscow

MOSCOW, April 20 (UPI) -- An explosion and fire in a high-rise apartment building in Moscow killed three people and injured four others, authorities said Saturday.

The blast occurred on the building's sixth floor Friday evening, igniting the fire, RIA Novosti reported.

The blaze was extinguished early Saturday, the Russian news agency said.

"Firefighters are clearing the debris that formed as a result of the explosion and fire," an emergency services spokesman said. "The elevator shaft was destroyed."

The building's residents were evacuated and were being housed temporarily at a nearby school.