Armenia: Explosion at Yerevan Chemical Plant

Two explosions and a fire struck Armenia's largest chemical plant in the early evening of May 14, sparking fears of air contamination in the city center.

A EurasiaNet reporter in Yerevan said that five people were reportedly killed in the incident at the Russian-owned Nairit industrial rubber production plant, situated roughly five kilometers from the center of Yerevan. Earlier Russian news service reports stated three dead and 17 wounded. Police were said to be evacuating nearby areas, according to ArmeniaNow.com.

The potential cause of the blasts and fire remain unknown. Officials from the Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that the fire had been contained and stressed that no pollution had resulted that could be harmful to Yerevan residents, Russian news wire services reported