King Abdullah condoles Russia’s Putin over Magnitogorsk building collapse

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday sent a cable to Russian President Vladimir Putin, condoling him over the loss of life caused by the collapse of a building in the city of Magnitogorsk.

In the cable, King Abdullah expressed his sorrow and sympathy to President Putin and the victims’ families, wishing the injured a speedy recovery, according to a Royal Court statement. A massive blast rocked an apartment block on Karl Marx Street early on December 31, destroying an entire 10-storey section of the building, according to www.rt.com.

The search and rescue operation concluded on Thursday, when the bodies of the two last victims were discovered. It went on for four days and saw 24 people saved.

Eighteen residents were rescued in the first hours after the blast. Six more people, including two children, were found as emergency workers sifted through the rubble, the news website added.