MOSCOW, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has increased to seven in a household gas explosion in Russia, and dozens more remain missing, the Emergencies Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Flowers displayed in tribute of the victims of a gas explosion that rocked a residential building in Russia's Urals city of Magnitogorsk on January 1, 2019. (Photos: VCG)

A total of 12 people were pulled out from the debris, seven of whom were confirmed dead and five were hospitalized, said the statement.

Search operations for the missing are underway.

A gas explosion on Monday rocked a 10-story residential building in the city of Magnitogorsk, 1,400 km east of Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin visited the site of the accident in the mining city, according to the Kremlin.

Cover image: Emergency officers take part in a rescue operation the day after a gas explosion rocked a residential building in Russia's Urals city of Magnitogorsk on January 1, 2019.