A powerful blast on an oil tanker in the Siberian region of Yakutia left four people dead, six injured and three missing, Itar-Tass news agency said on Friday.
The explosion occurred Thursday when oil was being poured into the tanker, which was docked on the Anabar river in the city of Yuriung-Khaya.
”From the 12 crew members, six are in hospital, including four in a critical condition,” RIA Novosti news agency quoted a Transport Ministry official as saying.
Local authorities had started evacuating nearby villages, fearing new explosions or oil leakages, an emergencies ministry official told Itar-Tass.
The blast sparked a fire that was put out early on Friday with the help of two aircraft sent by Moscow. — Sapa-AFP