UPDATE 2 - Death toll from gas station blast in Russia's Dagestan region rises to 13

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) — The death toll from an explosion at a gas station in the city of Makhachkala, the administrative center of Russia's Dagestan region, rose to 13, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said on Saturday.

"One more deceased person was found under the rubble," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said on Saturday that two children were among the victims.

Special equipment is being used to clear the rubble, while the fire that broke out after the explosion was extinguished, it said.

Following the incident, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the possible violation of safety rules.

Dagestan authorities declared Sept. 28 a day of mourning to honor the people who died in the explosion.