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Experts suspect a resident had illegally tapped into the block’s electricity supply to mine cryptocurrency, with a heavy power surge causing overheating of the circuits leading to fire.

Locals in Artem, near Vladivostok, said it was a “miracle” no-one died.

"We have spotted something which looks like mining equipment,” said a spokesman for the local division of the Emergencies Ministry.

Pictures were released showing the charred remains of the mining gadgetry.