MOSCOW, April 14 (Reuters) - A fire has broken out at a gunpowder plant in the Russian city of Kazan, injuring two people, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday, citing local authorities.
The fire, which resulted in part of the building collapsing, was not caused by an external action and production has not been halted, local authorities were quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.
One of the injured is in serious condition and is in intensive care, the agencies reported, citing regional authorities.
Founded in the late 18th century, the Kazan gunpowder factory is the oldest of its kind in Russia, its website says. The plant produces gunpowder for small arms, as well as ammunition for land, naval and air artillery.
In 2023 the plant, along with its CEO Alexander Livshits, was hit by EU and U.S. sanctions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the company supplies ammunition to the Russian military.
(Reporting by Reuters, Editing by William Maclean)
