Death Toll from Russian Gunpowder Factory Blast Climbs to 20
The number of people killed in Friday’s explosion at a gunpowder factory near Moscow has risen to 20, with more than 130 others injured, local authorities confirmed on Monday. The blast occurred at the Elastik gunpowder and ammunition plant in Ryazan, about 200 kilometres southeast of Moscow. Initial reports had put the death toll at 11. Officials declared Monday a day of mourning in the region. According to local sources, the explosion may have been triggered by a rogue shell detonation. Independent outlets reported that the factory had previously been warned over repeated safety violations. Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case for possible breaches of industrial safety regulations, suggesting the incident was not linked to Ukrainian sabotage. Photos released by the emergency ministry showed parts of the plant reduced to rubble. Search and rescue operations were still underway […]