The death toll from Friday’s explosion at a gunpowder facility near Moscow has climbed to 20, while more than 100 others sustained injuries, Russian officials confirmed on Monday.
Authorities also announced that a probe into possible breaches of industrial safety regulations has been launched.
Initial reports after the blast at the Elastik gunpowder and ammunition factory in Ryazan, located about 200 kilometres (120 miles) southeast of Moscow, indicated 11 fatalities, according to independent outlets.
“Twenty people have died as a result of the accident,” the local administration stated, noting that “134 injured, of whom 31 were hospitalised.”
Monday has been declared a day of mourning in the region, though the plant was not officially named.
Citing law enforcement sources, the 112 Telegram channel suggested the explosion may have been caused by the detonation of a rogue shell.
It also reported that the factory had previously been issued several warnings over workplace safety lapses.
The emergency ministry released images showing one of the production halls reduced to rubble, with officials confirming that rescue efforts were still ongoing.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case for violations of industrial safety rules, a move suggesting the blast was not linked to Ukrainian sabotage.
Although Kyiv has carried out sabotage strikes against Russian infrastructure since President Vladimir Putin launched the war in Ukraine in 2022, fatal factory incidents remain a recurring problem in Russia due to persistent safety failures.
Notably, in 2021, another explosion at the same plant claimed 17 lives, leading to prison sentences for some members of the factory’s management.