ISTANBUL
Russian authorities announced Monday that the death toll from last week’s explosion at a factory in the Ryazan region has climbed to 20, with more than 130 others wounded.
“As of 7 a.m. (0400GMT) on Aug. 18, 20 fatalities were recorded following the incident in the Shilovsky district. A total of 134 people were injured, with 31 receiving treatment in hospitals in Ryazan and Moscow,” the regional crisis center said in a statement shared on Telegram.
The statement noted that the remaining 103 victims are receiving outpatient care, while emergency workers continue search and recovery efforts at the site.
Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said Friday that the explosion was followed by a fire that broke out in the morning at a workshop. State news agency RIA, citing the governor, reported that the facility was a gunpowder shop belonging to the Elastik plant.
Initially, Malkov confirmed five deaths and more than 100 injuries, many caused by shattered glass. He later declared Monday a regional day of mourning in honor of the victims.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations verified that the blast occurred Friday in the village of Lesnoy, located around 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Moscow.
According to RIA, the Russian Investigative Committee’s regional branch opened a criminal investigation into the incident on suspicion of violating industrial safety regulations.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE