A fire at an oil refinery in northwestern Russia on Sunday resulted in deaths and injuries, local officials said. The fire was not caused by a Ukrainian drone strike, and investigators have opened a criminal case on suspicion of negligence.
A fire broke out at an oil refinery in northwestern Russia on Sunday, resulting in deaths and injuries, local officials said. The fire was not caused by a Ukrainian drone strike, and investigators have opened a criminal case on suspicion of negligence.
The fire near the city of Ukhta in Russia’s northwestern Komi Republic left at least three people injured, Komi’s emergencies ministry said. Regional investigators said that the fire also caused deaths, but did not specify how many. They did not say whether the fire had yet been extinguished.
“Today a fire occurred at an oil refinery facility in the city of Ukhta during scheduled technical work by a contractor, resulting in deaths and injuries,” the investigative department wrote on Telegram.
Investigators have opened a criminal case into possible negligence at the oil refinery.
Regional Gov. Vladimir Uyba said that the fire was not related to a drone strike. In recent months, Russian refineries and oil terminals have become priority targets of Ukrainian drone attacks, part of stepped-up assaults on Russian territory.
Local officials did not specify which company the refinery belongs to, but images published by the local emergencies ministry show the logo of oil giant Lukoil.
The fire department responded to the oil refinery fire and fought the blaze for several hours. The fire was eventually extinguished, but not before it caused extensive damage to the refinery.
The fire department said that the fire started in a storage tank and spread to other parts of the refinery. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Residents living near the oil refinery were evacuated from their homes as the fire raged. The evacuation order was eventually lifted, but some residents were still unable to return to their homes.
The fire department said that the air quality in the area was safe, but residents were advised to stay indoors as a precaution.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire department said that it is too early to say what caused the fire.
Investigators are looking into several possible causes, including a lightning strike, an electrical malfunction, or a human error.
The fire department was praised for its efforts in fighting the fire. The fire department said that the firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the refinery.
The fire department said that the firefighters put their lives on the line to protect the community.
