A devastating explosion at a factory in Russia’s Ryazan region has claimed the lives of 20 people, with more than 130 others injured, authorities confirmed Monday. The blast, which occurred last week, has left a community in mourning and prompted a criminal investigation into possible industrial safety violations.
“As of 7 a.m. 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,” the region’s operational headquarters reported via Telegram. The remaining 103 injured are undergoing outpatient treatment, while search and rescue operations continue at the blast site.
Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said the explosion and subsequent fire erupted on Friday morning at a workshop reportedly used as a gunpowder shop within the Elastik plant, as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA. Initially, Malkov reported five fatalities and more than 100 injuries, many caused by shattered glass and debris. In response, the governor declared Monday a day of mourning for the region.
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The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed the blast occurred in the village of Lesnoy, approximately 250 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Authorities have launched a criminal case investigating potential violations of “industrial safety requirements,” according to the Russian Investigative Committee’s regional branch.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as fire and smoke engulfed the workshop, sending shockwaves through the surrounding community. Rescue teams worked through the weekend to search for victims and secure the site, a process complicated by the hazardous materials stored at the plant.
This tragic incident underscores ongoing concerns about industrial safety in facilities handling explosive materials in Russia. While the investigation seeks to determine the precise causes of the blast, the human toll is clear: families are grieving, hospitals are stretched, and the village of Lesnoy is left grappling with the immediate and long-term impact of the disaster.
As authorities continue their work, questions remain about regulatory oversight, emergency preparedness, and whether further measures are needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. For now, the region mourns, and investigators race to bring clarity to a calamity that has shaken Ryazan.
