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ARMENIAN CHEMICAL PLANT BLAST KILLS 4, NO MAJOR HAZARD
ITAR-TASS
May 15 2009
Russia
YEREVAN, May 15 (Itar-Tass) -- An explosion at the Nairit chemical
enterprise in Yerevan on Thursday killed four people and injured eight,
but "caused no major environmental hazard and there was no dangerous
discharge", spokeswoman of the facility Anush Arutyunyan said.
The enterprise produces synthetic rubber and the blast occurred in
the chloroprene shop followed by fire. "One absorption tower burned
down," Arutyunyan said.
She said four workers of the facility were killed, another four
workers and four firemen were injured.
Seventeen fire brigades rushed to the site and extinguished the
blaze in three and a half hours. The affected territory comprised 80
square meters.
A commission was set up to investigate the cause of the blast.
Built in 1936 Nairit was the Soviet monopoly producer of synthetic
rubber. In 1989 environmentalists succeeded to have the facility shut
down. However, after Soviet collapse Armenian authorities re-started
Nairit.
In December 2008 the plant put much of its 2,000-strong workforce
on unpaid leave and production dwindled until April 25-26, when it
produced synthetic rubber for the first time in five months at less
than half capacity.
ITAR-TASS
May 15 2009
Russia
YEREVAN, May 15 (Itar-Tass) -- An explosion at the Nairit chemical
enterprise in Yerevan on Thursday killed four people and injured eight,
but "caused no major environmental hazard and there was no dangerous
discharge", spokeswoman of the facility Anush Arutyunyan said.
The enterprise produces synthetic rubber and the blast occurred in
the chloroprene shop followed by fire. "One absorption tower burned
down," Arutyunyan said.
She said four workers of the facility were killed, another four
workers and four firemen were injured.
Seventeen fire brigades rushed to the site and extinguished the
blaze in three and a half hours. The affected territory comprised 80
square meters.
A commission was set up to investigate the cause of the blast.
Built in 1936 Nairit was the Soviet monopoly producer of synthetic
rubber. In 1989 environmentalists succeeded to have the facility shut
down. However, after Soviet collapse Armenian authorities re-started
Nairit.
In December 2008 the plant put much of its 2,000-strong workforce
on unpaid leave and production dwindled until April 25-26, when it
produced synthetic rubber for the first time in five months at less
than half capacity.