Death toll rises to 13 after military plane crash in Russia

Oct. 18 (UPI) -- More than a dozen people have died Tuesday after a Russian military bomber crashed into the courtyard of an apartment complex in the resort town of Yeysk.

The death toll from the crash rose to 13, with three children among the dead, and another 19 injured, Russian news agency Interfax reported Tuesday, citing Alexei Kuznetsov, the country's assistant minister of health.

The Russian Su-34 supersonic bomber crashed into a nine-floor residential tower on Monday Russia's governor of the Krasnodar Krai territory Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram.

Kondratyev said the pilots ejected before the crash and that 17 apartments within the building suffered damage, as crews continued to battle flames sparked by the crash.

"There is no threat to nearby houses and buildings, evacuation from them has been canceled," the Russian ministry said. "More than 410 people and 105 pieces of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire."

Russian media also reported that the crash was caused by a malfunction of the plane's engine, which caught fire almost immediately after takeoff. It had been scheduled to perform a training flight and was not equipped with ammunition.

The crash came after Russia attacked Kyiv with "kamikaze" drones early Monday, killing at least four people and causing civilians to flee to shelters.