SHAKHTY, Russia – An explosion and fire at a chemical plant in the Rostov region of southern Russia left nine people injured, authorities reported Wednesday. The incident occurred less than a year after the opening of the plant.
Security camera footage captured the moment of the explosion at the Shakhtinsky Polyester Plant in the town of Shakhty. Five people were hospitalized with various injuries, three others sustained burn wounds, and one person received treatment without hospitalization, according to Rostov region Governor Vasily Golubev. He also stated that the blaze had been contained more than an hour after emergency crews were notified.
Golubev denied rumors on social media that the plant explosion occurred as a result of a drone strike. The Rostov region borders eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which are partially occupied by Russian troops.
An individual identified as one of the plant’s workers claimed in an interview with a pro-Kremlin news website that the explosion was caused by unsafe equipment handling. According to the worker, the explosion resulted from attempts to fix a faucet dripping with acid, with workers evacuating the facility as the spill intensified.
The Shakhtinsky Polyester Plant, touted as an “import-substitution enterprise” designed to replace Western companies that exited Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, opened in June. The incident raises concerns about industrial safety and the potential risks associated with such facilities, highlighting the need for thorough safety protocols and rigorous equipment maintenance in chemical plants.