Two people were killed on Tuesday as an explosion hit a tanker in the Russian city of Makhachkala, while search for one more sailor is underway, the press service of the Russian Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transportation (Rosmorrechflot) said.
“[There were] 12 people on duty [at the tanker]. One person is currently missing, while two people are in a hospital,” the press service said.
A spokesperson from the regional department of the Russian Health Ministry said earlier that five people were injured.
“A duty officer of the Rosmorrechflot received a message about an explosion in the engine space and smoke in the accommodation space at the VF TANKER 16 in the city of Makhachkala. At the moment of the incident, the tanker was near the fourth pier of the sea port in the city of Makhachkala. Presumably, five people were injured… Search for three people is underway,” Rosmorrechflot said.
One of the victims is in critical condition and has sustained burns on 95% of his body, a representative of the regional Ministry of Health said.
The tanker belongs to the Volga Shipping Company, according to preliminary data.
Russian investigators have already launched probe into the incident.