Ukrainian authorities say 19 people, including two children, are deadand at least 24 are missing after an explosion at an apartment buildingin the Crimean resort town of Yevpatoria.
Rescue teams aredigging through rubble Thursday to find survivors from the blast thattore through the five-story building late Wednesday.
They say 21 people have been rescued so far.
Ukraine'sPrime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko headedto Yevpatoria Thursday to meet with rescue officials.
RussianPresident Dmitri Medvedev has offered to send naval personnel fromRussia's Black Sea fleet to help with the search efforts.
Authoritiesare working to establish the cause of the explosion. Preliminaryreports say it could have been caused by oxygen or acetylene cylindersthat may have been stored in the building's basement.
Gas explosions are common in Ukrainian apartment buildings, especially during the winter when residents turn up the heat.