Russia petrol station fire kills 27, injures 66

Footage posted online showed a one-storey building ablaze, Reuters TV reported.

"It's like a war here," a witness said.

The number of people injured rose to 66, 10 of whom are in a critical condition, RIA news agency said quoting the Russian deputy health minister Vladimir Fisenko.

Thirteen of the wounded are children, Interfax reported citing the Dagestani health ministry.

It took fire fighters more than three and a half hours to put out the fire that spread into an area of 600 square metres, TASS reported, citing a statement from the Russian emergency service.