FIELD OF FIRE
Huge explosion rips through Russian oil and gas field triggering ‘Armageddon-like’ inferno amid fears of sabotage
A HUGE explosion has hit a strategic Russian oil and gas field amid suspicions key facilities are being targeted in sabotage attacks.
'Armageddon-like' flames shot into the sky from the giant blaze at the Markovskoye facility, the latest in a series of blasts and fires being linked to the war in Ukraine.
4
4
4
Dramatic footage shows the scene from hell caused by the 'jet fire' in the east Siberian district of Ust-Kut, Irkutsk region.
Putin has recruited tens of thousands of his fighters from Siberia, and the Irkutsk region has suffered a high mortality rate.
At least seven people suffered injuries in the blast at Angarsk which was in the same region as a blast three days earlier that was compared to an earthquake or plane crash for its force.
Recently there have also been explosions and fires at shopping malls as well as energy facilities.
READ MORE ON RUSSIA
The incidents have been linked to sabotage against the Russian tyrant's unpopular war in Ukraine, which has seen nearly 100,000 Russians killed and many others maimed.
The Russian authorities rushed out a statement declaring the Markovskoye blaze was under control, even though it was clearly still burning in the remote region.
Governor Igor Kobzev failed to mention the explosion heard by witnesses and claimed: “The fire was extinguished at the complex natural gas treatment plant at the Markovskoye field.
“There is no threat to residents.”
Most read in The Sun
But he admitted 155 firefighters were deployed seeking to control an inferno some estimates said had spread to 10,700 square feet.
The facility produces crude oil as well as condensate and natural gas.
It is co-owned by Russian billionaire Nikolay Buinov.
The explosion and initial fire started soon after 11pm local time on Sunday and officials say the blaze will not spread.
A probe is underway into the cause of the latest explosion and fire.
Investigators are still examining the earlier massive fire at Angarsk Oil Refinery on Thursday.
Two such infernos have ravaged major malls in Moscow this month.
The blaze broke at the Mega shopping centre in Khimki near the Russian capital led to the collapse of part of the structure.
One person was killed in the fire.
4
Topics