Russia explosion: At least 13 injured after huge ball of fire rips through petrol station

A MASSIVE explosion has ripped through a city in southwest Russia, leaving at least 13 injured.

Russia explosion: Huge ball of flames erupt from gas station

The blast happened in Volgograd city in Russia with at least 13 people understood to be injured in the explosion. Footage posted on social media shows the terrifying red flames blast into the sky.

According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, a propane tank caught fire at a gas station in Volgograd’s Traktorozavodsky district.

Firefighters reached the site at 11.30am local time. An initial attempt to contain the fire was unsuccessful.

Video footage of the explosion shows a large ball of fire was sent flying up into the sky and the terrifying huge flames could be seen from a distance followed by thick, black smoke.

Russia explosion: At least 13 people have been left injured

Russia explosion: At least 13 people have been left injured (Image: EXPRESS)

The explosion was seen for miles

The explosion was seen for miles (Image: Twitter/rushkovskaya)

It was first reported only four to six people were caught in the initial blast but rescuers were also injured due to several small explosions.

All were taken to the hospital and the fire is now under control.

The cause of the blast is not clear yet, but local media has reported the explosion occurred in the fuel tank.

Cars are seen travelling the opposite direction as the military and emergency services head towards the blaze.

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The bright red flames shot up into the sky

The bright red flames shot up into the sky (Image: Twitter/ankitmishrajour)

Tthe explosion happened in the southern district of the Volgograd city. 

Eyewitnesses say the explosion shook the windows of many houses within a wide area.

Regional authorities told Sputnik News that at least one person was in critical condition.

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Cars are seen driving away from the explosion

Cars are seen driving away from the explosion (Image: Twitter/@observint)

Ten victims were taken to the hospital while another two refused hospitalisation.

One of the firefighters, an employee of the Emergencies Ministry, has suffered serious burns.

Local reports claim at least 50 percent of his body burned by the time he was taken to the hospital. 

Thousands of homes damaged in Beirut explosion

Thousands of homes damaged in Beirut explosion (Image: PA)

This explosion comes just days after more than 200 people were killed in a horrifying explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanese media claimed the explosion happened in a fireworks warehouse.

Fireworks could be seen exploding in footage spread across social media.

The bigger explosion caused most of the damage.

Beirut has been left destroyed in the explosion

Beirut has been left destroyed in the explosion (Image: PA)

Hundreds of thousands of people are now living in severely damaged homes, many without windows or doors.

A spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said the needs of those affected were "huge".

Rona Halabi said: "These people need shelter, they need food... they also need cleaning detergents, they need help in picking up what is left of their homes."

She added: "But there is also another need for the infrastructure of Beirut... Two main water and electricity stations have been heavily damaged by the explosion."

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