At least 13 people died in a blaze at a fireworks factory Monday in Russia’s western Yaroslavl region, according to state media.
The village of Kubrinsk, where the fire broke out, ended up cut off from the electricity grid, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Shops in the village also closed down.
“Thirteen people were killed in the blaze. A total of 15 people were present at the facility,” said the press service of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Over 100 emergency personnel worked to extinguish the blaze, TASS said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
Investigators opened a criminal case over suspected violations of workplace safety regulations at hazardous production facilities, but provided no further details.
The Yaroslavl region lies around 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow.
No further details were immediately available.