Powerful Explosion Occurs At Russian Oil Refinery In Siberia

Locals thought there was an earthquake.

There was an explosion at an oil refinery in Russia's Angarsk city district in eastern Siberia in the early hours of 15 December, followed by a large fire. As a result of the accident, some people were killed or injured.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in Irkutsk region.

The fire broke out on the G-64 unit on the territory of the refinery. More than 100 employees of the Emergency Ministry and 25 vehicles were involved in extinguishing the fire. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the open fire has been already extinguished.

The Irkutsk Region authorities report two dead and two injured workers at the plant. RosSMI reports that the number of injured has grown to five.

The area of the fire at the refinery was 2.5 thousand square metres.

City surveillance cameras recorded a bright flash, similar to an explosion, after which the fire broke out.

Many locals thought an earthquake had occurred. The blast wave reached Irkutsk and its suburbs.

According to preliminary information, the cause of the explosion at the refinery was a gas leak in the process unit's systems. Currently, the prosecutor's office, the Investigative Committee and a special commission are investigating into the accident.

According to the workers of CHP-9, they could feel the blast wave, the ceilings in the building near the burning oil plant blew off and the windows were broken, reports the Mash Telegram-canal.

The Charter 97% Telegram channel has published a video of the explosion at the Angarsk oil refinery

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