MOSCOW

An explosion at a military plant in Russia's Bashkortostan region killed three people and injured nine others, according to regional authorities.

Five people injured were hospitalized after the incident at the Avangard enterprise producing gunpowder in the city of Sterlitamak, Andrey Nazarov said at a press briefing in Ufa, the Bashkortostan administrative center.

“All people have been extracted from under the rubble. Three are dead,” said Nazarov. “In total, nine people ended up in the hospital, but four went home, and another five remained there this morning.”

According to Nazarov, part of the building was damaged, but there is no risk of further collapse, and the company will continue to operate normally.

He noted that the cause of the incident is being investigated.

Investigative authorities opened a criminal case for violating industrial safety requirements for hazardous production facilities, which resulted in the negligent infliction of serious harm to human health. The Bashkortostan prosecutor's office took over the investigation process.