The incident occurred at the Sterlitamakskiy Neftekhimicheskiy plant, according to local authorities. The city's mayor's office reported the explosion originated from a "product pipeline."

Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry attributed the blaze to a gas pipeline depressurization that ignited liquefied gas. Firefighters managed to contain the fire within an hour of the explosion.

Dramatic footage captured the moment of the explosion and subsequent thick plumes of black smoke rising from the plant. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. (ILKHA)