"They lie unconscious under lungs ventilation in the intensive care departm

7 injured as a result of the blast and fire in Pinsk were transferred to the burns reanimation unit of Minsk ambulance hospital. 5 more were transferred to Brest regional hospital. At present moment 18 people are in hospital, 14 of them are in the intensive care departments of hospitals in different cities, with bad burns. One of the patients died during the night in the Pinsk central hospital. This was the third victim of the accident which took place on October 25. 

As it was informed by the Chief Doctor of Minsk city ambulance hospital Viktar Sirenka, the doctors gave no comments with regard to health state of the injured. They say they need a correspondent permit of the Ministry of Health Care to do that. Sirenka stated he had refused to give any comments to state TV-channels. The head of the reanimation and therapy department for burn patients Larysa Zalatukhina said the same. 


Euroradio's correspondent met a relative of one of the injured in the hospital foyer. Nina Vasileuna lives in Minsk and came to visit her sister's husband. However, she was not allowed to see Mikalaj or pass him anything: the patients are in the intensive care department. According to her, they are in a serious condition. 

Nina Vasileuna: “They did not let me in. Only the head of the department and his doctor told me he was in a bad state. And that's all. However, that's evident - people are in the intensive care department. There can be no visitors there. They lie unconscious uder lungs ventilation”.

The lady said Mikalaj had worked at "Pinsk Wood" for many years. The work is considered harmful for one's health. However, no one could predict such a tragedy.

Nina Vasileuna: “Who knows how it happened. Different things happen in life... We'll hope for the better, of course”.

As it was informed by the head of the press-center of the Ministry of Emergency Control Vital Navitski, the most likely reason for fire at Pinsk woodworking plant was the explosion of wooden dust depositions, which happened due to breaking of the rules of exploitation of wood-pellets manufacturing equipment. 

Vital Navitski: “Specialists are working at the site of the accident now. They have already conducted the preliminary examination of the building. It has been considered dangerous to use. At present moment, they take off the tiles of the dangerous building and will continue examining it. However, one of the first suggested versions is that the possible reason for fire was an explosion of wooden dust depositions. And these depositions have been collected as a result of breaking the regime of exploitation of wood-pellets manufacturing equipment”.

29 people were working in the section at the moment of the tragedy, two of them died at the spot. The fire at the area of 100 square meters was extinguished by 19 rescuing units. 

As it became known to Euroradio, financial compensations to the injured have already started. This was informed by the commercial manager of "Pinsk Wood" .

Commercial manager: "First, these compensations have already been paid. The payments are obligatory, and the expenses for funerals will also be covered by the enterprise, there will be certain support. There is probably no enterprise which would act another way".

The financial help has been established by the financial manager so it is still unknown what sum will be paid. According to non-confirmed information, it can be about 3 thousand dollars. Detailed information is to appear at "Pinsk Wood" web-site, informed at the enterprise.

Let us remind yoy that the blast at "Pinsk Wood" plant happened on October 25. This night, wooden depositions set on fire at "Minsk Wood" factory. The area of the fire amounted to 200 square meters. The fire damaged lumber depositions and the construction of the awning where they had been stored. This was informed to Euroradio by the Press-Secretary of the Emergency Control MinistryVital Navitski.

Navitski: "Wooden depositions and wooden platform under a metallic awning set on fire at Satsyjalistychnaya Street. There were no casualties. The reasons for fire are being investigated". 

This was the second fire at big woodworking plants within a day.

Photo: Zmitser Lukashuk