Three people died in the explosion at the Novosibirsk plant of artificial fiber

May, 7 - Three people died after the explosion at the Novosibirsk plant of artificial fiber.

The rubble clearing is to finish soon in the shop number 8 of the Novosibirsk Plant of Artificial Fiber where the blast and fire occurred on the 7th May. All the three victims have been identified. They are a woman born in 1970 and two men born in 1972 and 1988.

The explosion blasted at 5:35 PM last Wednesday and caused the partial collapse of the building when 12 workers were inside. According to preliminary data of the Investigative Committee of Russia, mixing of explosive materials resulted in the accident.

Head of the regional Department of the emergency Ministry Anatoliy Kuznetsov added that the construction of the workshop number 8 were damaged at the area of 500 sq. m after the blast. A special committee would investigate the causes of the accident, he said.

The Novosibirsk plant of artificial fiber will continue to operate despite the blast, - claimed the Governor pro tempore of the Novosibirsk region Vladimir Gorodetskiy.

A criminal case has been opened according to the item 217 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of the industrial safety rules at dangerously explosive facility or workshop).

The Novosibirsk plant of artificial fiber also produces ammunition and explosives. One of the main direction of the plant is the production of industrial explosive materials. The plant is a part of the Russian state corporation “Rostec”.

Previously, one worker died and 18 people were injured after a blast in the product assembly workshop at the plant in December 2008.