Gunpowder workshop explosion kills 17 in Russia

Moscow (CNN) – A deadly explosion at a munitions disposal plant in Russia’s western Ryazan province killed at least 17 people on Friday, the official Russian news agency TASS reported.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said a criminal investigation into the explosion had been launched.

According to Reuters, a full shift of workers was on the site when the brick building was smashed.

Emergency services were alerted at 8:22 AM Moscow time to a fire in Shilovsky district, Lesnoy village, Ryazan region, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said.

Authorities believe the fire started in one of the plant’s gunpowder workshops, the ministry said.

A video that circulated on social media on Friday allegedly shows the moment the explosion occurred, with a yellow fireball rising into the air from the brick building.

Images of the disaster showed scattered charred debris as smoke rose over a demolished building.

“The body of victim number 17 was taken out from under the rubble of the workshop. Search and rescue operations were completed at the scene of the explosion, there are no more people under the rubble,” TASS reported, citing the services of emergency.

Regional Governor Nikolay Lubimov declared on October 25 a day of mourning in the Ryazan region, which is located southeast of Moscow, for those killed in the explosion and insisted that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of those working in “dangerous industries”.

“This is an egregious case, and every effort must be made to ensure that nothing like this happens again. In hazardous industries as well as those that are in a lower danger class, but which can pose a threat to life and life. people’s health, “he said. Lubimov added that he would recommend that authorities carry out unscheduled inspections at such facilities.

A statement from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said officials would verify the plant’s compliance with safety standards for dangerous production facilities. The investigation will also consider what may have caused the fire, he said.

– CNN’s Katharina Krebs reported from Moscow and Toyin Owoseje wrote from London.