Military aircraft crashes into residential building in Russian city of Yeysk

A military aircraft has crashed into a residential building in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, Russian news agencies said, citing witnesses and the Defence Ministry.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that both crew members ejected safely, but the plane crashed into a residential area, causing a fire as tons of fuel exploded on impact.

The Defence Ministry also said the crash was called by an engine fire.

Regional Govenor Veniamin Kondratyev said that emergency services were working to put out the fire.

Interfax quoted the local emergencies ministry as saying five floors of the apartment building were on fire, the upper floors had collapsed and about 45 apartments were damaged.

They had no immediate information about casualties.

RIA news agency said the plane was an Su-34 and crashed during a training flight from a military airfield.

The crash has caused a fire spanning 2,000 square metres, according to the Emergency Ministry. 

Yeysk is located on the coast of the Sea of Azov which separates southern Ukraine and southern Russia.