At least three dead in factory collapse in Russia

Norilsk (dpa) – When a huge production hall on the Arctic Ocean in Russia collapsed, at least three people were killed.

Authorities in the industrial city of Norilsk said that several workers were taken to hospital with serious injuries on Saturday after the accident. According to the clinic on Sunday, the health of four injured was considered serious.

It was initially unclear why the nickel processing building collapsed. The authorities spoke of violations of security regulations without giving details. Four people were arrested, including those responsible for building the hall. According to the investigators, deficiencies were discovered in mid-2018, but they were not remedied in time.

At the time of the collapse, eight employees were in the building. Two could save themselves. According to two of their colleagues, rescue workers searched under the rubble for hours at temperatures of minus 40 degrees. Destroyed concrete slabs and metal parts that were removed with heavy technology could be seen in photos and videos. A day of mourning in memory of the victims is planned for this Monday.

The factory belongs to the largest non-ferrous and precious metal producer Nornickel, which was recently sentenced by a Russian court to a record fine of 1.6 billion euros. In Norilsk, more than 21,000 tons of diesel oil leaked from a tank last spring. Environmentalists spoke of the largest oil spill in the history of the Russian Arctic.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210221-99-528761 / 2

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