An explosion occurred at a gas station in the southern Russian region of Chechnya, resulting in the fatalities of at least four individuals, according to reports from local officials on Saturday.

The blast originated from a gas tank and subsequently ignited a fire at the service station located in the regional capital, Grozny. Among the deceased were two children, as confirmed by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry. The blaze has since been brought under control.

Grozny is situated approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) to the south of the nation’s capital, Moscow.

In response to the incident, regional authorities have launched a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the explosion.

This tragic event follows a similar incident just last month in the neighboring Dagestan region, where a gas station explosion claimed the lives of at least 13 people and left 23 others injured.