Mysterious explosion at Russian military factory kills 10 workers

A massive explosion at a munitions factory in Russia's Urals region has killed at least 10 people and injured 19, the governor of the Chelyabinsk region, Alexei Teksler, confirmed.

The explosion occurred late Wednesday night in the Kopeisk district of the Chelyabinsk region. The region is located near the Kazakhstan border. Fires spread quickly after the explosion, causing panic throughout the area.

Governor Teksler said that rescue operations are still underway and at least 12 workers are still missing. Local firefighters managed to bring the fire under control after a long effort.

Although the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown, Teksler firmly stated that the incident was not the result of a drone attack. "We can definitely say that this was not an external attack."

A huge column of smoke could be seen rising from the area after the explosion. Videos circulating on social media showed the intensity of the fire so high that the light from the explosion could be seen from several kilometres away.

BBC Verify analysed two videos, and one of them showed the moment of the explosion being captured on CCTV footage from about 3 kilometres away. Another video showed a car driving along a side road recording the huge fireball.

According to initial reports, the explosion took place at a factory that produced and processed explosives for the Russian military. Security has been tightened in the areas around the factory, with special forces and investigation teams working there.

The governor of Chelyabinsk said Friday would be a day of mourning in memory of the victims. A criminal investigation has also been launched into the horrific blast.

Witnesses said the sound of the explosion was so loud that windows in nearby buildings were shattered and people rushed out of their homes into the streets in panic. Rescue workers are continuing to rescue people trapped under the rubble.

Meanwhile, local authorities said that some of the injured are in serious condition. They have been admitted to local hospitals and are receiving emergency treatment.

Such accidents have been frequent in Russia in recent years in the industrial and defense sectors. Questions have been raised about safety deficiencies, especially in war-related weapons production and storage facilities. This explosion has brought those concerns to the fore again.