Russians put the blame for the explosion on the public utilities and the tenants themselves.
MOSCOW, January 29, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to what Russians think about the explosion in a residential building in Magnitogorsk.
An overwhelming majority of Russians (98%) are aware of the tragedy in Magnitogorsk, including 57% of respondents who say they are well aware.
Three-quarters of respondents (74%) think the incident was caused by gas explosion: 44% point to tenants’ improper handling of gas. Thirty percent point to poor maintenance of gas networks. Every tenth respondent (11%) thinks it was a terrorist attack.
Respondents mainly blame public utilities for the tragedy (42%) and the tenants themselves (35%). Local authorities are less likely to be blamed (9%). Besides that, a majority (76%) consider that the authorities’ actions were adequate.
After the Magnitogorsk tragedy, Russians overwhelmingly think that the same thing may happen to them and their families in the future (61%).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 10, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Ten days ago there was an explosion in a multi-storey building in Magnitogorsk (Chelyabinsk region), killing 39 people. Did you personally hear about the incident? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I am well aware of that | 57 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 41 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 2 |
There are a number of versions of what happened. Some people say that it was a gas explosion caused by poor maintenance of gas networks. Others say it was caused by negligence and improper use of gas by the tenants. Still others consider that it was a terrorist attack. Which opinion do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
It was a domestic gas explosion caused by negligence and improper use of gas by tenants | 44 |
It was a domestic gas exposition caused by poor maintenance of gas networks | 30 |
It was a terrorist attack | 11 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 12 |
In your opinion, who is the to blame for the tragedy? (open-ended, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents, shown are answers of at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Tenants of the house/victims | 20 |
Gas company / gas services / Gorgaz | 19 |
Apartment owner where the explosion took place | 9 |
Administration / local authorities | 9 |
Public utilities / Public utilities service provider / Utility infrastructure | 9 |
Managing company providing services | 8 |
Equipment safety supervision bodies / lack of control | 6 |
People/citizens / human factor | 6 |
State / governmental bodies / government | 3 |
Law-enforcement bodies / security bodies | 2 |
Security services / special services | 2 |
Governor | 1 |
Developer / design engineers/ construction workers | 1 |
Alcoholics / drunken state | 1 |
Poor state of the house/equipment | 1 |
Putin | 1 |
Terrorists / terror attack | 1 |
Negligence | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 26 |
In your opinion, were the actions of the authorities adequate, appropriate to the situation or inadequate, inappropriate to the situation? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Likely adequate | 76 |
Likely inadequate | 9 |
Don’t know | 15 |
Are you afraid that you or your family can be a victim of an explosion similar to the Magnitogorsk tragedy? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Very afraid | 13 |
Somewhat afraid | 48 |
I am confident that nothing of that kind will happen to me or my family | 14 |
I did not think about it | 23 |
Don’t know | 2 |
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