The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said a criminal investigation into the blast had been launched.
According to Reuters, an entire shift of workers was at the site when the brick building was torn down.
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said emergency services had been alerted at 8:22 a.m. Moscow time to the fire in the Shilovsky district of the village of Lesnoye in the Ryazan region.
Officials believe the fire started in one of the plant’s gunpowder workshop, the ministry said.
A video circulating on social media on Friday allegedly showed the moment of the explosion, with a yellow fireball rising in the air from a brick building.
Photos of the disaster are showing scattered, burnt debris as smoke rises over a collapsed building.
“The body of the 17th victim was retrieved from under the rubble of the workshop,” TASS said, citing emergency services. Search and rescue operations have been completed at the blast site, there are no more people under the rubble.
Regional governor Nikolay Lubimov declared October 25 a day of mourning for those killed in the explosion in the Ryazan region, which is located southeast of Moscow, and to ensure the safety of those working in “hazardous industries” and A lot too. stressed the need
“This is a serious matter, and every effort should be made so that this does not happen again. Both in hazardous industries and in those industries which are low in hazard category but may pose a risk to life and health of people. Huh.” he said. Lubimov said he would recommend that officials conduct unscheduled inspections at such facilities.
A statement from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said the authorities would check the plant’s compliance with safety standards for hazardous production facilities. He said the probe would also consider what caused the fire.
CNN’s Katharina Krebs reported from Moscow and Toyin Owosje wrote from London.
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