An explosion has occurred at a petrochemical plant in the city of Sterlitamak in Bashkortostan, the Russian Ministry of Emergencies reported. The cause of the explosion was a gas pipeline leak.
Residents of nearby towns heard a loud bang at around 9 a.m. Moscow time (8 a.m. in Poland). After the explosion, clouds of smoke and flames rose above the Sterlitamak petrochemical plant. The cause was a gas pipeline depressurization, which resulted in the combustion of liquefied gas, the Ura portal wrote.
clouds of smoke in the area of a petrochemical plant. Footage from the recording Reuters
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed the reports, adding in a post on its Telegram channel that three people were injured in the incident.
All emergency services in the city were dispatched to extinguish the fire, the Ura portal reported.
Reuters reported that the plant, located 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Moscow, produces rubber, high-octane fuel additives and jet fuel.
Bashkortostan is a republic within the Russian Federation.
Main image source: Reuters