Фото: МЧС
The prosecutor’s office has sent to court a criminal case involving an explosion and fire at a vehicle service station in Aziarco. The accused is a 34-year-old Minsk resident. He is charged with violating fire safety regulations, resulting in a fire through negligence that caused serious bodily injuries and significant damage to property belonging to others.
The man worked as a fourth-grade vehicle washing machine operator at a service station specializing in the maintenance of freight vehicles in the Minsk district. He had repeatedly received training on occupational health and safety and fire safety requirements.
In August 2024, the man began washing a tanker truck that contained residues of n-pentane. While cleaning the inside of the tank, he opened the drain valve at the rear and discharged the remaining cargo.
“Leaving the valve open, the accused installed equipment inside the tanker and began washing it. During the process, residues of n-pentane mixed with water leaked from the drain valve into the washing facility. The resulting fuel-air and vapor-air mixture, containing vapors of the highly flammable liquid n-pentane at an explosive concentration, caused an explosion and fire in the vehicle washing facility,” the indictment says.
As a result, the driver of a truck sustained burns covering 48% of his body. In addition, six legal entities whose vehicles were inside the washing facility and four individuals suffered losses totaling more than 1 million rubles.
The accused remains under a written undertaking not to leave the country pending trial.