Blast at Russian Factory Kills at Least 20, Injures Over 130
An explosion at a factory in Russia's Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, has killed at least 20 people and injured another 134. Emergency services reported that the incident was triggered by a fire inside a workshop. While official sources have not specified the factory's output, some media reports suggest it was an explosives plant. Video footage showed parts of the facility completely destroyed, as rescue teams with sniffer dogs worked through the rubble to locate survivors.
Unpacked:
The Elastik plant produces industrial explosives, anti-armor warheads, and gas generators for submarines. Local outlets describe it as a private weapons and ammunition producer, formerly part of the state defense conglomerate Rostec.
Yes, this is the second deadly explosion at the Elastik plant. In October 2021, 17 people were killed in a blast at a workshop operated by the explosives producer Razryad at the same facility.
The explosion was reportedly triggered by a fire in a gunpowder workshop. Investigators have launched a criminal case into possible violations of industrial safety requirements, but have not announced any arrests or attributed the cause to external attacks.
Local authorities declared a day of mourning in the Ryazan region. Emergency crews, including K-9 units, have been searching the rubble for survivors, and a criminal investigation into safety violations has begun.