A warehouse exploded in the Russian city of Sergiyev Posad. At least one person died, and nine are still missing. Authorities had opened a criminal case into suspected violations of industrial safety.
Investigators said that nine people were still missing Thursday after a massive explosion tore through a warehouse in the Russian city of Sergiyev Posad.
At least one person died in Wednesday’s blast, which officials said began in a warehouse used to store pyrotechnics in the city north of Moscow.
“More than 60 people have sought medical help, nine are missing,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a social media post.
The local emergency ministry informed that search efforts were still going on.
Rescue workers could be seen sawing through the ruins of a collapsed building overnight, while firefighters sprayed water on the smoldering wreckage.
The cause of the incident was not immediately clear. Investigators said they had opened a criminal case into suspected violations of industrial safety.
Accidental fires are common in Russia, where hundreds of blazes are recorded yearly due to aging infrastructure and poorly enforced safety standards.
Katrine Houmøller, with AFP
