Seven people were killed and six others injured in a gas blast in Russia's far eastern region of Primorsky, a spokeswoman for the local emergencies service said Thursday.

The blast occurred early Thursday in an apartment building in the village of Vozdvizhenka, leaving four dead at the site, the spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency.

Another three people died in hospital, and six others were receiving treatment, the report said.

Over 70 people, including rescuers, physicians and firemen, remain working at the scene of the blast. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2009)