The Komi Republic experienced a sudden explosion at a temporary oil storage tank after allegedly violations of safety procedures by workers from the contracting firm Ecolife. Reports indicate the interior of the empty tank was being cleaned when the blast occurred, according to the information outlet Comiinform. The incident is under investigation, and authorities are assessing what went wrong to prevent a repeat in similar facilities.
Initial assessments point to residual gases igniting as the most likely cause of the blast. Following the event, the DNS-7 facility halted operations, and a team of seven firefighters remained on site to manage the scene and secure the area. Emergency responders have been coordinating with local authorities to ensure public safety and determine the scope of any potential hazards to nearby residents or infrastructure.
Earlier, Ekaterina Kiselevich, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for the Komi Republic, stated that the explosion occurred near the village of Verkhnekolvinsk. Telegram updates from regional officials corroborated the location, underscoring the seriousness of the incident and the need for rapid containment and investigation by authorities.
Separately, in early October, a blaze broke out at the Prokopyevsk oil depot in the neighboring Kemerovo region. Firefighters responded promptly, and investigators began to review the depot’s operations to identify any safety lapses that could have contributed to the fire and to implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
On 25 September, reports confirmed a serious injury to an employee following an emergency at an oil depot in the Orenburg region. Emergency medical services and investigators were dispatched to the site, and efforts focused on stabilizing the injured worker while determining the sequence of events that led to the incident. This incident highlighted ongoing concerns about on-site safety practices and the importance of stringent risk management within oil storage facilities.
In another unrelated event, the Adler district of Sochi reported a diesel tank explosion. Krasnodar Territory Governor Veniamin Kondratyev noted that the resulting fire covered about 96 square meters. One prevailing theory suggested a drone attack could have triggered the explosion, prompting authorities to review security protocols surrounding critical infrastructure across the region.
Earlier occurrences at facilities such as the Kostenko mine in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region have also drawn attention to safety challenges in energy and mining sectors. In each case, responders, inspectors, and officials have emphasized the need for comprehensive safety upgrades, clearer emergency procedures, and ongoing oversight to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. The overarching goal remains to safeguard workers, nearby communities, and environmental resources while maintaining essential energy operations.