Emergency officials in Russia said that an explosion took place Thursday morning at a synthetic rubber plant in the Siberian city of Omsk.
The Emergency Situations Ministry said the accident had claimed casualities, but gave no specific details.
“As a result of a fire, an explosion occurred in the oil products refining column. There are casualties,” local emergency officials said in a statement.
Officials said 30 emergency vehicles and 80 rescue workers had been dispatched to the site of the incident.
People in the vicinity reported hearing two loud explosions and seeing a dark cloud of smoke rising from the Omsky Kauchuk plant.
According to information on the Omsky Kauchuk website, the company occupies a leading position on Russia’s synthetic rubber market.
Omsky Kauchuk is part of the Titan holding ompany, which produces a range of synthetic goods.
Source: RIA Novosti
Published: 06 Mar 2014