Eleven people, including six children, died in an explosion in a five-story building in Nizhny Tagil on August 1, 2024. The incident marks one of the most horrific days in the city’s history.

The “Medical Olympus” award ceremony in Yekaterinburg honored doctors from the Nizhny Tagil ambulance service and other hospitals for their crucial role as first responders at the scene of the explosion.

The explosion occurred at noon in a Khrushchev-era building on Sibirskaya Street, causing two sections of the building to collapse. Many schoolchildren were at home for the summer holidays.

Maria Agarkova, the mother of a rescued boy, expressed her gratitude from the stage: “Thanks to all of you, thanks to your coordinated and prompt work, my son is alive and well today. I want to say a huge thank you from the bottom of my mother’s heart.”

The last victim, 12-year-old Polina, died in the hospital after spending 28 days in a coma. She suffered burns to 45% of her body and a spinal fracture.

Vladislav Pinaev, the head of Nizhny Tagil, delivered a moving speech in memory of Polina: “The events of those three days will probably not just remain in our memory as the greatest tragedy in the history of Nizhny Tagil, the Sverdlovsk region, Russia. The weeping, not even the crying, but the wailing of mothers will forever remain in our memory.” He also acknowledged the coordinated work of medical professionals who saved many lives.

The incident led to residents who lost loved ones sharing their stories, and relatives of the deceased children have remained in contact.