Society

Three Chinese killed in Russia fire, 2 missing

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-29 07:05

BEIJING - Three Chinese workers were found dead on Tuesday after a big fire caused by a blast in an oil refinery in southeastern Russia. Another two missing Chinese were believed killed as well, according to a senior Chinese consular official in Russia.

A big fire engulfs Zabaikalsky Refining Company in southeastern Russia on Monday. Three Chinese were killed while two are still missing in the fire caused by a blast in the oil refinery. [Photo/Xinhua]

According to a written report given by the Russian government, the explosion was probably caused by the open fire indoors when the Chinese workers were debugging the new machinery early on Monday, said Luo Hui, the vice-consulate general in Irkutsk region.

Related readings:  One killed in Russia oil refinery blast  5 Chinese missing in Russia oil refinery blast

Xinhua reported the Zabaikalsky Refining Company lies in the village of Dauria and that the blast occurred inside its pumping station at around 4:25 am local time.

Eighteen Chinese workers and the company's Executive Director Arkady Chuprov were believed to be at the oil refinery when the explosion broke out.

"The remains of three Chinese workers have been found, while the missing two were presumably killed," said Luo, noting that the location of their bodies was in the blast center.

"No others have been injured in the explosion."

The identities of the five victims have been preliminarily confirmed by the Russian government, but still need further verificationsby the Chinese consulate.

Luo told China Daily that four of the victims were from Hebei province and one was from Liaoning province, but he didn't disclose their names.

The 18 Chinese workers had been sent to Russia by a Chinese oil refining company, registered in Manzhouli, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which is also a shareholder of the oil refinery.

Further investigation by the Russian regional prosecutor's office will continue, and the Chinese consulate suggested the company bring the frightened 13 workers back to China ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival.

The blast had caused a fire in a main warehouse with about 2,000 tons of fuel oil. The huge flames waves shattered the windows some 300-500 meters away.

It took a long time for firefighters to put out the fire and clean up the aftermath of the explosion.

It is reported that no residents were injured in the blast. Villagers were evacuated to a safe place in case of more blasts.

The pre-start operations were about to be completed at the oil refinery before the blast, which destroyed some 90 percent of the installation.