At least 100 people died and dozens were injured in an explosion at a nightclub in the Russian city of Perm near the Ural mountains late yesterday, Interfax reported citing investigators.

Russian media said the explosion was an accident caused by fireworks. RIA-Novosti quoted law enforcement and Emergencies Ministry officials as saying that according to preliminary data, fireworks caused the blast.

A law enforcement officer told Itar-Tass news agency that the explosion tore through the Lame Horse nightclub in the centre of town. "The blast went off at 23.15 Moscow time (20.15 GMT)," RIA Novosti agency quoted the Emergencies Ministry as saying.

Perm has a population of 1.2 million and is the sixth largest city in Russia.

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