Death toll in Russian petrochemical plant accident rises to twelve

(Patria) - Rescuers have completed search operations five days after a major fire at a Russian petrochemical plant, and the final death toll has risen to twelve, the company that owns the facility announced early Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Sibur, the owner of the large Nizhnekamskneftekhim facility, while opening a new part of the plant in the central Russian region of Tatarstan, expressed condolences and announced the names of the twelve deceased, including a firefighter, on Telegram. Dozens of people were injured.

Following the accident in the city of Nizhnekamsk, Sibur announced that a gas mixture exploded after a loss of pressure in the synthetic rubber and plastics production plant.

It was stated that it is unclear what caused the ignition of the gas.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that a plane was sent from Moscow to Nizhnekamsk, about 1,000 km east, to transport the injured to the capital for treatment.