Russian defence research facility in Tver.Multiple casualties have been reported by local media.
UPDATE 5 pm (April 21) – THE death toll continues to rise from the huge fire that broke out at a ‘top-secret’ Russian defence research facility in Tver on Thursday, April 21. According to Russian media reports, the number of people that have died in the blaze has risen to seven. A source in the local emergencies service told Russin state news agency TASS: “We confirm a number of seven deaths at the moment,” the source said adding that the number of casualties may increase. Video footage circulating online shows the extent of the fire as thick clouds billow from the building, which has been identified as a Russian air-space defence research institute located on Afanasy Nikitin Street in the centre of Tver. Some reports suggest that the facility developed “Iskander” and “S-400” missile systems for the Russian military.
ORIGINAL 2.30 pm (April 21) – A HUGE fire has broken out at a ‘top-secret’ Russian air-space defence research facility in Tver, located northwest of Russia’s capital of Moscow. The blaze was reported at around midday (local time) on Thursday, April 21 and initial reports suggest that at least two people have died, while another 30 people have been injured, according to local media. Russian media outlet TASS reported that firefighters and rescue teams were called to the building located on Afanasy Nikitin Street in Tver at around midday. According to an Ambulance crew spokesman “some of the victims inhaled smoke, others had bruises and injuries, as people led the fire and jumped from windows,” he said. The fire apparently originated on the second floor of the building, but the fire quickly spread through the wooden floors and voids and engulfed three floors, according to fire chiefs. The staff of the scientific institution of the Russian Defense Ministry were evacuated. It is believed that as a result of the fire, the roof collapsed over the entire area of the building. According to the regional emergencies department, there is no threat of fire spreading to neighbouring buildings. Primary investigations suggest that old wiring was the cause of the blaze. A source from the power grid told TASS: “According to preliminary data, the emergency operation of the power grid became the cause of the fire, since the building and wiring are old.” https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/04/21/fire-russian-defence-research-facility-tver/ |