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Fire at Amur complex
A fire broke out on Tuesday at Russia’s Amur Gas Chemical Complex in the far eastern Amur region during commissioning, and the plant said it was extinguished after emergency operations.
“Seven people have died, including six Chinese nationals, while nine more workers from China are missing”
Global Banking & Finance Review, citing the plant’s Telegram channel, said seven people died including six Chinese nationals, while nine more workers from China were missing.
The South China Morning Post reported that three people died, including two Chinese citizens and one Russian citizen, and said 24 people were taken to hospital with “more or less serious injuries” while 122 others sustained “light injuries” without needing hospitalisation.
The Moscow Times said a Chinese contractor was killed and more than 100 other workers were injured, with the complex located near the Amur region town of Svobodny and firefighting continuing alongside “controlled burning” of residual gases.
Hospital counts diverge
The South China Morning Post quoted Amur GKhK saying, “The deaths of three people … two citizens of the People’s Republic of China and one Russian citizen, have unfortunately been confirmed,” and it described ongoing search and rescue operations.
The Moscow Times said AGCC reported “Despite prompt medical care, one victim, a Chinese national employed by a contractor, could not be saved,” while also stating that 19 workers were hospitalized with moderate to severe injuries and another 104 received treatment for minor cuts and bruises.
Global Banking & Finance Review said nine Chinese workers remained missing amid ongoing emergency operations, environmental checks, and a criminal investigation, while Reuters reporting within that piece tied the missing status to the plant’s Telegram channel.
Anadolu Ajansı similarly said the person who died was a “contractor employee and a Chinese citizen,” and it reported that at least 19 people were hospitalized in Svobodny with moderate to severe injuries and another 104 had minor injuries treated.
Investigations and next steps
Russia’s Investigative Committee is investigating the incident as a potential breach of industrial safety regulations, and Reuters is cited in The Times of India as saying investigators are working to establish the cause of the fire.
“Russia’s Investigative Committee is investigating the incident as a potential breach of industrial safety regulations”
The Times of India also said the incident occurred at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex, which has not yet begun operations and was preparing to start production, and it reported that 152 were treated for injuries including 36 taken to hospitals.
Global Banking & Finance Review said the fire was extinguished and that nine Chinese workers remained missing amid ongoing emergency operations, environmental checks, and a criminal investigation, while The Moscow Times said a commission has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire.
The Moscow Times described the facility as a $10 billion joint venture between Sibur and Sinopec, and it said the complex was undergoing final testing ahead of its planned launch in early 2027, placing the project’s timeline and commissioning work in the spotlight after the fire.