Seven people died in a fire at Russia’s Defense Institute – reports Russia

Seven people have died in a huge fire at a key Russian defense research institute in Tver, northwest of Moscow, according to reports.

Local authorities said 25 people were also injured in Thursday’s fire, TASS reported, citing emergency services, and that at least 10 people were unaccounted for.

The death toll was initially five, but Tass said it had risen to seven.

“We are currently confirming seven deaths,” the source was quoted as saying by Tass. It added that the number of victims could increase.

Firefighters sprinkle a hose on the burning building of the Central Research Institute of the Air and Space Defense Forces in the Russian city of Tver Photo: Vitaly Smolnikov / AP

The fire broke out in the administrative building of the Central Research Institute of the Air and Space Forces, which works for the Russian Ministry of Defense. He quickly engulfed the top three floors of the building, forcing those inside to jump out of the windows and causing the roof to collapse.

The photos of the main building show that it was completely gutted by fire. Videos from the scene, which is about 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Moscow, show thick smoke and flames swirling from the institute’s windows.

The incident was followed hours later by unconfirmed reports of a fire at one of Russia’s largest chemical plants.

Images on social media allegedly show a large fire at the Dmitrievsky chemical plant in Kinsehma, about 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Moscow.

They showed smoke rising from the facility, which is described on its website as the largest producer of butyl acetate and industrial solvents in Russia and Eastern Europe.

There is no official reason for any of the fires.

Initial reports say regional military prosecutors are investigating the cause of the Tver fire. The state-run Tas news agency said early discoveries point to aging cabling as a contributing factor.

The Institute of Defense is engaged in aerospace research, including a unified air defense system for the CIS bloc of the former Soviet republics, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s website.