Four people were killed when a Russian fighter jet crashed into a residential building in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, Interfax news agency reported, citing local authorities. Another six people are missing.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, it was a Su-34 fighter-bomber whose engine caught fire. According to footage posted on social media, the building where the plane crashed was engulfed in flames.

Two pilots of the plane managed to escape before the crash, according to Russian authorities. Firefighters and ambulances arrived at the scene of the accident.

Russian media report that a military plane crashed on a residential building in the city of Yeysk. pic.twitter.com/cqsqLi2tpe

— TRUSH⚡️English (@TpyxaNews) October 17, 2022

According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, the fire that resulted from the plane crash spread to an area of ​​about 2,000 square meters.

The Investigative Committee of the country opened a criminal case into the crash of the fighter. “Military investigators are investigating the circumstances and causes of the incident,” the statement said.

Russian news agencies said the pilots activated the automatic launch system, adding that officials were trying to find information about casualties on the ground.

Interfax, citing the local emergency service, reported that five floors of the high-rise building were engulfed in flames, the upper floors were collapsed, and about 45 apartments were damaged.

The governor of the Krasnodar Territory of Russia, for his part, said that “all fire and rescue units of the region are involved in extinguishing the fire.”

The city of Yeysk is located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov, directly opposite the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was destroyed by bombardments and a long siege in the first months of the Russian offensive.

^{According to REUTERS}