Around 25 individuals have sustained injuries following an explosion that occurred at an industrial facility situated northeast of Moscow. The incident was reported on Wednesday by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
The explosion occurred in a boiler room at the Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant, located in Sergiev Posad, a town in Russia. This plant is used for development and manufacturing, specializing in optical and optoelectronic devices for a range of sectors including the Russian military, law enforcement agencies, industry, and healthcare, as stated by the state news agency TASS.
Very large blast in Sergiyev Posad, 70km NNW of Moscow. Reported to have taken place at Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant pic.twitter.com/aQyW9Poxev
— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) August 9, 2023
As per local authorities cited by RIA Novosti, the origin of the explosion was traced back to a pyrotechnics warehouse that had been rented by a third-party company operating on the premises of the plant. This occurrence was classified as a "breach of established technological protocols".
Preliminary information, reported by TASS, has indicated that the explosion was not the result of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as military drones. Such drones have been utilized by both Ukrainian and Russian forces to carry out attacks on opposing territories. It is unclear at this time whether Russian authorities suspect foul play or military activity.
The impact of the explosion was significant enough to result in a blast wave which shattered windows in the surrounding area, according to additional information from TASS.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that two of the injured individuals required hospitalization.
