The number of people injured as a result of three blasts at a TNT factory in the town of Dzerzhinsk in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region has risen to 38, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said.

“A fire broke out in one of the factory’s buildings. The local staff acted swiftly and managed to evacuate the workers. The fire has caused damage to the building. According to preliminary information, no casualties have been reported as a result of the incident. Local emergency services brigades are working at the scene”, a spokesperson for the “Kristall” plant said.

According to preliminary information, the blasts happened as a result of the technological process being violated.

Russia’s scientific and research institute “Kristall” focuses on scientific, technical and technological support for work related to the production of explosive materials, as well as their safe transportation and utilisation.

For more than 60 years the institute has been engaged in the development of explosive compounds for a wide range of propellants, gunpowder, and ammunition for different types of arms, and for civil industry.

Since 2012 “Kristall” has been part of the JSC “Scientific-Production Consortium” “Mechanical Engineering” (holding structure of the State Corporation “Rostec”).