VLADIVOSTOK, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the fire at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex (AGCC) has risen to three, the facility's press service said on Tuesday.
"According to updated information, unfortunately, the deaths of three employees of contracting organizations have been confirmed: two citizens of China and one citizen of Russia," it said in a statement.
Earlier, it reported that one person had been killed and more than 100 others injured in a fire at a gas‑chemical complex under construction in Russia's Far‑Eastern Amur region.
AGCC reported on Tuesday that a fire had broken out at the facility's construction site. The number of people hospitalized with injuries of varying severity following the fire has risen from 19 to 24, it said.
"A total of 122 people sought help for minor injuries (bruises, cuts). They received required medical aid on-site and did not require hospitalization," according to the statement.
"Search‑and‑rescue operations are ongoing at the site where the fire occurred. Special services specialists are putting out the seat of the fire and carrying out controlled burning of residual process gases," AGCC stated.
The enterprise's press service noted that there was no threat to residents of neighboring areas.
Preliminary findings indicated that the fire originated in an auxiliary technological section of the pyrolysis unit.
A commission has been established to investigate the causes of the fire. A criminal case has been opened over violations of safety requirements at hazardous production facilities.
