The Department of the Investigative Committee for the Rostov Region opened a criminal case due to an explosion and fire at the Avangard plant near the city of Shakhty. This was classified under the article on violation of labor protection requirements (Part 1 of Article 143 of the Criminal Code).
The enterprise produces polyester staple fiber used in the production of non-woven fabric. A fire occurred today in a pillow filling production workshop.
According to Governor Vasily Golubev, a total of six people were taken to hospitals: three with burns and three with injuries. Four more victims were released.
Regional authorities did not name the cause of the explosion. The publication Gazeta.ru gave its version of events, citing an anonymous employee of the plant. According to him, mechanics tried to fix a stuck faucet with acid and hit it with tools; As a result, the valve flew off and an uncontrolled chemical reaction occurred.
“On the third floor we produce the thread itself, that is, a liquid solution drips — acid and chloride. The mechanics tried to fix one faucet where the acid itself was dripping, the publication quotes its unnamed interlocutor as saying. “They didn’t try to fix it in a logical way, but tried to fix it by hammering on the nut. With a powerful blow, they made a very strong blow, and the bolt cracked. The valve itself, where the acid was, flew out and it poured onto the solution. At first there was a small light, then gas began to appear.”