Japanese Prime Minister Expresses Condolences Over Magnitogorsk Building Collapse

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, extending condolences over the deadly collapse of an apartment building in the city of Magnitogorsk on New Year's Eve, the Japanese government's press service said on Friday.

TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2019) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, extending condolences over the deadly collapse of an apartment building in the city of Magnitogorsk on New Year's Eve, the Japanese government's press service said on Friday.

As many as 39 people were killed after a block of a 10-storey apartment building partially collapsed in Magnitogorsk on December 31. The collapse was caused by what authorities said was a natural gas explosion. The Russian Investigative Committee has said that no traces of explosives were found at the collapse site.

"Dear Vladimir, with pain in my heart I learned about the death of many Russian citizens, including children, as a result of the blast in an apartment building in the Chelyabinsk Region. On behalf of the Japanese government and the Japanese people, I express sincere condolences to the families of the victims and pray for them. I sincerely pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," Abe said in a message.

Abe added that "while Russia has been overcoming this tragedy, Japanese nationals and I will always stand by" the Russian leader and people.