UPDATE2: Explosion at Penzenskaya TETs of T Plus kills 1 person

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MOSCOW/SARATOV, Jan 26 (PRIME) – One person died and part of the building was ruined in an explosion at the Penzenskaya TETs power plant, belonging to Russian power utility T Plus, earlier known as Territorial Generating Company-7 (TGC-7), a source in the emergency service told PRIME on Thursday.

“Preliminarily, the roof of TETs above turbine 5 collapsed on an area of 300 square meters. One person died,” the source said. The source later said that the roof collapsed on an area of 600 square meters.

An official of the regional Emergency Ministry office said one person was injured and the building was partially destroyed.

Anna Shupilova, spokeswoman for the regional administration of the Emergency Ministry said that the accident did not affect heating supplies in the city of Penza and its outskirts.

The accident was caused by a crash of high-pressure water heater following a pressure test, T Plus said.

The facility was insured by Ingosstrakh insurance company under an agreement of compulsory insurance of hazardous facilities envisaging an up to 2 million ruble compensation for damage to health.

The Energy Ministry said the emergency caused no energy supply problems, but damaged hot water supply of 68 apartment blocks and six public buildings in Penza. Works to restore the heating systems using reserve equipment have started. A turbine to replace the damaged one was launched.

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