Two remain missing after Angarsk fire
IRKUTSK. July 4 (Interfax) - Investigators have talked with the man who suffered severe burns on 70% of his body in Tuesday's fire at an underground oil storage facility in Angarsk, spokesman for the top Irkutsk regional investigative agency, Vladimir Salovarov, told Interfax.
"The man claimed that a four-member shift started pumping water out near a reservoir filled with oil products on Tuesday morning. As the pumping was going on an explosion went off. He lost consciousness, and when he regained consciousness he saw flames all around. He made his way out of the fire, but did not find his colleagues," Salovarov said, adding that the two workers remain missing.
The company that accommodated the oil storage facility has suspended it operations. Documents have been seized from its offices.
"The reservoir will be examined again today with the participation of state oversight officials," Salovarov said.
A fire broke out on Tuesday in the underground oil storage facility on the premises of the Deltacom company.
A Deltacom operator, born in 1968, suffered severe burns and is in intensive care.
The fire is under criminal investigation on counts of violating labor safety rules. Technological process errors are seen as a likely cause of the accident.
