3 killed, 150 injured in Russian chemical complex blaze — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least three people, including two Chinese nationals, were killed and around 150 others injured after a fire broke out at a gas and chemical complex under construction in Russia’s Far East, media reports said on Wednesday. Reuters reported that the fire broke out on Tuesday at the facility, a joint project of Russian company Sibur and Chinese oil and gas giant Sinopec. The complex is expected to become one of the world’s largest producers of polyethylene and polypropylene, but production has not yet started. Twenty-four of the injured were taken to hospital, while firefighters continued efforts to extinguish the blaze and specialists carried out controlled burning of remaining industrial gases. Russia’s Investigative Committee is investigating a possible violation of industrial safety regulations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.