MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - The accident at the organic synthesis plant in Novomoskovsk in the Tula region (200 kilometers to the south of Moscow) was of local nature and did not threaten the population, reads the plant's press release.The accident occurred at 11.15 Moscow time as a result of a major power outage in the Moscow region.A gas surge in the department producing oxalic acid from nitric acid oxides was caused by the power outage. Nitric acid oxides did not spread farther than 50-100 meters from the department, the press release runs. The accident was of a local nature and posed no threat to the population of Novomoskovsk and nearby areas." The Emergencies Ministry and rescue services took the situation under control at once.
"We took all the necessary measures to provide security of the plant's staff and to prevent ecological damage," the plant said.
Nobody suffered from the accident and requested medical aid.
At the moment experts are assessing economic damage and consequences of the accident.
Chief of the Russian General Staff Yury Baluyevsky said earlier that the accident at the oil refinery posed no threat to people.
"The cloud was dispersed and there is no risk," he said.
According to the NTV company, the size of the poisonous cloud which emerged after the explosion was 25-30 meters.
