Khaberni - Two people were killed and 72 others were injured in a massive explosion at the largest chemical plant in Russia, which was caused by an equipment malfunction, as announced by the company Sibur, the owner of the plant.
Dozens of firefighters rushed to extinguish the fire at the plant located in the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk in western Russia.
Sibur stated on social media, "Two people died due to the incident at the Nizhnekamskneftekhim plant, and eight people were taken to the hospital."
The company added, "The fire, which was caused by an equipment malfunction, was contained."
It further explained that "64 other people received treatment for minor injuries."
Sibur confirmed the absence of any hazardous emissions that threaten public health and continued to monitor air quality.
The mayor of Nizhnekamsk, Radmir Beliaev, said that the explosion caused the windows of some buildings in the city to shatter.
Unverified video clips on social media showed a massive plume of black smoke rising from the plant, with a fireball appearing at its base.
The local branch of the Russian Investigative Committee, which specializes in major crimes, began an investigation to determine any violations of industrial safety regulations.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim is Russia’s largest plant for synthetic rubber and plastics, supplying various industrial sectors from automotive to construction, from pharmaceuticals to agriculture.
