A massive explosion rocked a combined heat and power (CHP) plant in the city of Shagonar in Russia’s Tuva Republic, southern Siberia, on Wednesday morning, killing one person and injuring at least 23 others.
The explosion was first reported at 8:49 a.m. local time. The head of the republic, Vladislav Khovalyg, said on his Telegram channel that a fire at the thermal power plant had been localized. A state of emergency has been introduced in the region.
There have been several major explosions and fires inside Russia since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Many incidents have occurred at warehouses and military and industrial sites. Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for strikes on Russian soil. Newsweek has contacted Russia’s defense ministry for comment by email.
“At the moment, 18 people are hospitalized. Six are in serious condition. 9—in a state of moderate severity. Three more are in satisfactory condition,” said Khovalyg.
Russian Telegram channel Mash reported later that the number of injured victims had increased to 22 people.
“After the explosion at the thermal power plant, the victims were diagnosed with burns of various degrees to the limbs, body and head, as well as head injuries, concussions and soft tissue bruises. Most are in a state of shock. The youngest of them is 28, and the oldest is 65 years old,” the channel said.
And Tass, Russia’s state-run news agency, said that according to preliminary information, 23 people were injured and one person died in hospital as a result of the explosion and fire.
Baza, a Russian-language Telegram channel which is linked to Russia’s security services, said a fire started in the boiler room of the thermal power plant, which then caused an explosion.
Russia’s state-run news agency RIA Novosti was cited by several local news outlets as reporting that the cause of the explosion was the detonation of coal dust in the thermal plant’s fuel supply room.
NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images
Local authorities said all four boilers of the thermal power plant were not damaged in the explosion and are operating as usual. The serves about 62 houses in the city of Shagonar.
The incident comes a day after Ukrainian forces claimed to have struck an oil terminal in Russia’s Belgorod region that is used for “military purposes.”
The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) attacked the facility located in the Gubkinsky urban district, Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed source in intelligence.
“The oil depot is used for military purposes,” the news outlet said.
Russia has accused Ukraine of being behind a number of strikes on Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, throughout the war.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.