An explosion at a major metallurgical facility in Kazakhstan has killed two people and injured five others, officials and the company involved have confirmed.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning (5 May) at a plant operated by Kazzinc in Oskemen, the country’s largest zinc production site. The company, owned by commodities giant Glencore, confirmed the fatalities and said those injured are receiving medical care.
“Two people were killed and five others were injured. All necessary medical assistance is being provided to the injured,” Kazzinc said in a statement.
According to preliminary findings, the blast occurred during routine maintenance work.
“A bang occurred while work was being carried out to clean the smoke extractor, followed by a fire and the partial collapse of the structure,” the company added.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene. Authorities said the fire sparked by the explosion has since been extinguished. Rescue and clean-up operations are ongoing, with crews continuing to secure the site.
A special commission has been established to determine the exact cause of the incident and assess whether safety procedures were followed.
An environmental review is also under way. Early indications suggest there was only a limited release of dust, with no hazardous pollution exceeding safety thresholds.
Kazzinc, one of Kazakhstan’s leading producers of zinc, as well as lead, copper, gold and silver, is partly owned by the state fund Samruk-Kazyna, which holds a 30 per cent stake.
The country’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, has taken personal control of the response, signalling the seriousness of the incident.
In its statement, Kazzinc expressed condolences to the families of those who died and pledged both financial and psychological support to those affected.
Industrial accidents remain a concern across parts of Central Asia’s heavy industry sector, where ageing infrastructure and challenging working conditions can pose risks despite ongoing modernisation efforts.
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and inj...
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely ...
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry exp...
Energy transition, private sector development and regional cooperation are in focus at the Asian Development Bank’s 59th Annual Meeting in Sa...
Tensions are escalating in the Gulf after new attacks linked to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces say they struck Iranian fast...
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and injured more than 60, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely to persist.
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry experts from around the world.
The eighth European Political Community summit brought dozens of world leaders to Yerevan, signalling Europe’s deepening interest in the South Caucasus.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
Tensions are escalating in the Gulf after new attacks linked to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces say they struck Iranian fast boats at sea following hostile manoeuvres, after Iran was blamed for an earlier attack on a UAE oil facility.
Medics are working to evacuate two people with symptoms of the deadly respiratory illness, hantavirus, from a luxury cruise ship being held off West Africa, after three people died and several others fell ill, officials have said.
Uzbekistan has unveiled a series of major economic and regional initiatives as more than 4,000 delegates from over 100 countries gather in Samarkand for the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held under the theme “Crossroads of Progress.”
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely to persist.
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry experts from around the world.
Energy transition, private sector development and regional cooperation are in focus at the Asian Development Bank’s 59th Annual Meeting in Samarkand, highlighting Central Asia’s growing role in regional and global economic dynamics.
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has adopted a report warning of democratic backsliding in Georgia and raising the possibility of suspending visa-free travel if the government fails to change course.
The eighth European Political Community summit brought dozens of world leaders to Yerevan, signalling Europe’s deepening interest in the South Caucasus.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment