CNN –
According to a local official, at least 60 people were injured and eight are still missing after the explosion at an industrial facility in northeast Moscow, reported Russian state news agency TASS.
TASS reported that the explosion occurred at Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant, which is a developer and manufacturer of optical and optoelectronic devices for the Russian military, law enforcement agencies, industry, and healthcare.
According to Russian state media, a third company renting pyrotechnics warehouse on the site of the Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant was responsible for Wednesday morning’s explosion.
The area was still being rescued on Wednesday afternoon by rescue teams, who were worried that more people may still be trapped under the rubble. Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, stated that it will take approximately 12 hours for rescue workers to remove the debris, and three individuals may have already been extracted. Doctors have diagnosed their condition as grave.
The governor informed RIA Novosti that the explosion occurred in the pyrotechnics workshop, which is unmistakably a powerful incident.
According to an eyewitness who spoke on MASH, an independent Russian media blog, there was previously a munition factory at the site that was later sold and turned into pyrotechnics factory.
The reason for the explosion is unclear, as it is not known who worked at the company that went bankrupt and what they did there, according to Nikolai.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal investigation into the incident.
The Investigative Committee spokesperson stated to TASS news agency that there was no proof of a drone strike at the facility and that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion. Ukraine has deployed drones in multiple locations near Moscow in recent times.
Reuters reports that ambulances are stationed near the factory where the explosion occurred on Wednesday.
They stated that the explosion was very strong. The operational services are currently investigating, but they cannot confirm whether it was a blow from above or an internal explosion, as specialists investigate each case first.
The blast wave caused damage to windows in several nearby houses, as reported by TASS.
Sergiev Posad is part of the Golden Ring, a group of ancient towns with Russian orthodox churches that are located in and around Moscow. The city’s main cathedral and other structures are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.