Russia says 20 killed, over 130 injured due to blast at factory in Ryazan region

ISTANBUL

Russia on Monday said the death toll from a blast at a factory in the country’s Ryazan region from last week rose to 20, while more than 130 others were injured.

“As of 7 am (0400GMT) on August 18, 20 people died as a result of the emergency in the Shilovsky district. There are 134 injured, of which 31 patients are in hospitals in Ryazan and Moscow,” said the region’s operational headquarters in a statement on Telegram.

Noting that the remaining 103 injured are undergoing outpatient treatment, the statement said that search and rescue operations at the site of the blast are ongoing.

Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said Friday that an explosion and subsequent fire broke out in the morning at the workshop, which the Russian state news agency RIA reported to be a gunpowder shop of the Elastik plant, citing the governor.

Malkov initially noted that five people died and more than 100 people were injured, including due to broken glass. A day later, he declared a day of mourning in the region for Monday.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed that the blast took place on Friday in the village of Lesnoy, situated about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Moscow.

A criminal case was launched over the incident based on signs regarding the violation of “industrial safety requirements,” RIA reported, citing the Russian Investigative Committee’s regional branch.