An explosion occurred at the Avangard plant in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, according to eyewitnesses. Telegram channels report casualties. What is known about the incident is detailed below.
What happened in Sterlitamak
The incident became known after 8:00 PM local time (6:00 PM Moscow time). The accident occurred in the nitro unit, resulting in casualties.
The moment of the explosion was captured on doorbell cameras. The blast triggered car alarms, and the sound was heard in various districts of Sterlitamak. Local residents also reported the explosion on social media. A fire broke out afterward. Powerful explosions continue to be heard in the plant area.
At least five people were injured. Three of them were rescued from the rubble. One of the enterprise’s buildings was severely damaged. Rescue teams continue searching for people under debris, with ambulances on site. Initial reports indicated six casualties, later updated to eight.
One of the plant buildings completely collapsed due to the explosion. The epicenter was in a technological unit producing nitrocellulose, a substance used in manufacturing varnishes and plastics.
The Sterlitamak administration confirmed the explosion occurred in one of the Avangard plant workshops. Emergency services are working at the scene. Casualty figures are being verified. Authorities urged residents not to panic and to trust only official information sources.
The head of Bashkortostan confirmed there were casualties in the explosion. The cause is under investigation, and the workshop building sustained serious damage. The exact number of casualties was not specified. The regional Ministry of Health reported the city hospital switched to special operation mode.
Eight people were confirmed injured. Three were extracted from rubble and hospitalized. One patient is in serious condition in intensive care. Other victims are in moderate condition with no life-threatening injuries. Search operations continue at the explosion site.
The preliminary cause of the explosion is a safety violation by workshop workers. Rumors about a possible drone attack circulated, but no drones were detected in the region, and official authorities did not report any such incidents.
There may be fatalities from the explosion. Rescuers and colleagues cannot locate four sandblasters who were scheduled for night shift. They are preliminarily believed to be under the rubble.
What does the Avangard plant in Sterlitamak produce?
According to available data, the Avangard plant produces weapons and ammunition, disposes of explosives, and manufactures chemical products.
