The head of Russia's Emergency Ministry, Vladimir Puchkov, has called for safety inspections for household natural gas infrastructure following a number of gas explosions in residential buildings throughout Russia.
"The explosions of household natural gas in some areas has become an ordinary thing," the minister said at a conference of the National Center for the Administration of Crisis Situations. "Clean up the situation with the companies that operate and maintain the gas infrastructure and prepare a clear and coherent plan to correct deficiencies."
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin had called for a nationwide inspection of residential natural gas infrastructure.
The most recent gas explosion took place during the night of Nov. 6 in Ivanovo. Six people died in the explosion, and another four were hospitalized with serious injuries. On Oct. 23, another gas explosion occurred in Ryazan, killing seven people and injuring 13.
