AKIPRESS.COM - A major fire broke out in a chemical plant Ferghanaazot on Feb.23 resulting in the deaths of people, though the death toll was not immediately known, reports the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan.

The blast occurred in the section, where nitrogen fertilizers and other chemicals are produced.

“An explosion took place on February 23 at 4:30 pm during repair and installation works in the ammoniac section. There are casualties,” said the Ministry.

A governmental commission has been formed to investigate the incident. The number of victims has not been reported.

The JSC Ferghanaazot is the largest chemical plant producing nitrogen fertilizers in Uzbekistan. Its design capacity is 270,000 tons of urea and 350,000 tons of ammonium nitrate per year.