Nine people have died and several others were injured after a powerful explosion shattered an oil pipeline near the village of Strymba in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, specifically within the Nadvornyansky district of Ukraine. The authorities reported the updated fatality count through the State Service for Emergencies of Ukraine, noting that nine individuals lost their lives as responders continued to manage the aftermath on the scene. The same update confirmed that nine people sustained injuries in the incident, with five of them requiring hospitalization. Among the hospitalized are two children, highlighting the potential danger to nearby families and residents in the vicinity of the rupture and ensuing fire.
The incident occurred on the evening of September 30 when the explosion rocked the area around Strymba, triggering a large fire and releasing a significant amount of petroleum products. Eyewitnesses circulated images showing a dense plume of black smoke rising over a broad area, a scene that underscored the severity of the rupture in the oil pipeline and the speed at which the fire spread. Local authorities described the disruptive impact, including the spill of petroleum products over an area measured at roughly 100 square meters, creating a hazardous environment for people living nearby and complicating the response efforts. A large blaze extended to a nearby private residence, illustrating how quickly the fire migrated beyond the initial rupture site and the ongoing risk to nearby structures and residents.
In comments from Zinoviy Andrievich, who would later become mayor of the surrounding city, it was reported that approximately five victims were admitted to hospitals with burns. Andrievich also noted environmental concerns tied to the incident, including reports of an oil slick covering portions of the Strimba river, which raised fears about water contamination and longer-term ecological effects on the local ecosystem and communities relying on that water source. The scale of the emergency and the visible effects on the river underscored the need for a multi-agency response to contain the spill and prevent further spread of pollutants into drinking water supplies, farms, and recreational areas along the river corridor.
Earlier, there was mention of a separate incident variant being explored by investigators involving a gas station in Makhachkala, with authorities naming a particular version for the explosion under investigation. This reference appears to be an initial lead under consideration by the investigative and security bodies involved in assessing causes or contributing factors related to gas infrastructure and fuel-related accidents. While the focus in Strymba centers on the pipeline rupture and its immediate consequences, the broader context of fuel infrastructure safety and accident history in the region remains part of ongoing scrutiny by emergency response and law enforcement agencies, who continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and monitor environmental impacts. The situation has prompted calls for heightened safety checks, rapid containment measures, and clear communication with the public to prevent further injuries or exposure to hazardous substances.