The fight against the fire at the fuel depot in the city of Proletarsk in the Rostov region in Russia has been going on for five days. After the drone attack, more than 20 fuel tanks caught fire, six of which – as reported by the TASS agency – were extinguished. More than 500 firefighters are fighting the fire. Even clergymen with a holy icon appeared on the scene, who said prayers.
The fire at the fuel base in Proletarsk, attacked by Ukrainian drones on Sunday, has not yet been extinguished. More than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze, including those brought in from neighboring regions, planes from the Ministry of Emergencies and special trains, the portal of the Russian section of Radio Svoboda reported on Thursday.
By Thursday morning, the number of injured firefighters had risen to 49. Seven of the most seriously injured were transported to a hospital in St. Petersburg, the station added.
Fire at a fuel depot in the Rostov region. Footage from the recording TVN24
20 tanks caught fire
According to local authorities, at least 20 diesel fuel tanks with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters each caught fire in the drone attack. Russian media reported Tuesday that the fire area was 10,000 square meters.
After the drone attack, a column of smoke stretched 25 kilometers in one day. On Wednesday evening, another explosion occurred at the fuel base, and flames were visible in the neighboring town of Salsk, located 30 kilometers from Proletarsk, wrote the local portal 161. It also reported that priests with a holy icon appeared near the burning base, who read a prayer and blessed the firefighting equipment.
Proletarsk in the Rostov region Google Maps
The Russian state news agency TASS, citing sources in the operational services, reported that six diesel fuel tanks had been extinguished so far.
According to the Russian Telegram channel Don Mash, another fuel tank exploded on Wednesday evening. “There are a total of 74 tanks at the base, 15 of which have already burned down. Now the fire can reach the barrels of kerosene. Their depressurization is much more dangerous, the explosion will be many times stronger,” Don Mash predicts.
In the proletarian region it was introduced state of emergencylocal authorities do not plan to evacuate residents, claiming that the smoke is blowing towards the neighboring area. The services have not detected air pollution, meanwhile, residents of Proletarsk complain about the smell of burning and smoke in their homes, claiming that they are forced to wear masks – Radio Svoboda reported.
Radio Liberty, 161, tvn24.pl
Main image source: TVN24