Explosion rocks oil depot in Kazakhstan, leaving multiple injured

On January 25, 2025, an explosion rocked an oil depot in the city of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, leading to a fire and leaving four people injured.

The country's Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the incident and provided details to local media, per Caliber.Az.

According to the ministry, the fire initially started when three special vehicles caught fire on the oil depot’s premises. "Before fire units could arrive, an explosion of a gas-air mixture occurred, followed by the collapse of a hangar," the ministry reported.

Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the flames, which had spread across an area of 100 square meters. "As a result of the fire, four oil depot employees were hospitalized," the ministry added. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities are working to determine what led to the explosion.

During the firefighting operation, personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations also worked to prevent the flames from reaching nearby fuel tanks. "Our team took immediate steps to protect the fuel tanks and prevent the fire from spreading to them," the ministry said.

The fire has been classified as a high-complexity emergency, and specialists are continuing to investigate the cause.

By Tamilla Hasanova