September 16th — Day of Remembrance for the victims of the terrorist act in Volgodonsk

Today at 5:40 in the morning in the V-U quarter there began an event dedicated to the victims of the 1999 terrorist attack. Showing up first at the site of the tragedy, today as well as on that terrible day 14 years ago, were rescuers and firefighters, medical workers, law enforcement officers, representatives from the city, and relatives of the victims.

On September 16th, 1999, at 5:57 AM a vehicle packed with explosives equivalent to two tons of TNT blew up.

By its degree of damage, the attack at building number 35 on the Oktyabrskoe highway in the city of Volgodonsk is still considered the largest in Russia: damaged were 39 houses, a police station, two schools, a kindergarten, and a library. About 16,000 inhabitants (including a 1000 children) are officially recognized as victims. 19 Volgodonsk residents were killed, and 73 people became permanently disabled.

The city remembers the tragedy. Before dawn Volgodonsk residents gathered at the memorial on the site of the explosion: relatives and friends of the victims, rescuers and firefighters who arrived on the scene a few minutes after the explosion, as well as residents of neighboring houses, the public, and city officials.

At 5:40 am a memorial prayer service began in the pre-dawn silence. Cornelius, bishop for Volgodonsk & Salsky, celebrated the requiem mass.

To the sounds of violin, girls in white robes near the memorial plaque lit 19 candles — one for each Volgodonsk resident killed by the explosion.

At exactly 6:00 am the laying of flowers at the monument began. First of the officials honoring the memory of the dead was Mayor Viktor Firsov.

Then the clergy laid flowers, followed by relatives of the victims, deputy head of the Volgodonsk city administration for urban affairs Alexander Miloserdov, chief physician for emergency care Yevgeny Tarasov, other officials, firefighters, military members, the head of the public organization for victims of the terrorist attack Irina Halay, as well as other residents from the affected buildings and from Volgodonsk.

At the vigil spoke members of the rescue squad, led by city civil defense chief Yevgeny Anferov.

At 8:00 am radio news show «Volgodonsk remembers!» was broadcast. Continuing to arrive at the memorial with flowers and wreaths were representatives of utility, construction, industrial, and commercial enterprises, social institutions, employees from city and state institutions, veterans and youth organizations, political parties, college and high school students, and any who wished to honor the memory of those killed in the terrorist attack. The memorial ceremony will continue until the end of the day.

From the Official site of the city of Volgodonsk

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