Russia Factory Blast Kills 24, Injures Over 150 In Ryazan Region

Last Updated:August 19, 2025, 00:48 IST

Emergency crews were dispatched immediately to the site, where they worked through the weekend to sift through debris.

Monday was declared a day of mourning in the Ryazan region to honour the victims of the disaster (Image: Reuters)

A deadly explosion at an industrial plant in Russia’s Ryazan region has claimed 24 lives and injured at least 157 people, according to an update from the Associated Press on Monday. The blast occurred on Friday at the Elastik plant, located in the Shilovsky district, approximately 155 miles southeast of Moscow.

Emergency crews were dispatched immediately to the site, where they worked through the weekend to sift through debris in search of survivors and further casualties, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed. The scale of the destruction was evident in images released by authorities, showing the plant’s gunpowder workshop completely reduced to rubble.

According to state news agency RIA Novosti, the explosion was triggered after a fire broke out in the gunpowder section of the facility, igniting volatile materials stored on-site. The blast caused significant structural damage and engulfed large portions of the factory in flames.

As rescue and investigation efforts continue, Monday was declared a day of mourning in the Ryazan region to honour the victims of the disaster.

Further details emerged from the 112 Telegram channel, which has close ties to Russian law enforcement. It reported that the explosion may have been caused by the detonation of a rogue shell. The channel also revealed that the factory had previously received multiple warnings from authorities regarding labour safety violations, raising questions about oversight and accountability.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation body, has launched a formal criminal case into potential violations of industrial safety regulations. Officials emphasised that there is currently no indication of Ukrainian involvement, pointing instead to internal safety failures as the most likely cause of the incident.

This incident marks one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Russia in recent years, highlighting ongoing concerns about enforcement of workplace safety protocols in high-risk industries.

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Moscow, Russia

News world Russia Factory Blast Kills 24, Injures Over 150 In Ryazan Region

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