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Death toll on Siberian oilfield rises to three after accident

Two more people are in an extremely critical condition and one individual is in grave condition, regional healthcare ministry said

NOVOSIBIRSK, July 27. /TASS/. The death toll rises to three after the explosion at Verkhnechonskoe oilfield [operated by Rosneft’s affiliate Verkhnechonskneftegaz - TASS] in Irkutsk Region. One more injured person died in the hospital, regional healthcare ministry told TASS on Thursday.

"We have information about the third fatality; the individual died in the hospital," the source told TASS. Two more people are in an extremely critical condition and one individual is in grave condition, he added.

The oilfield operator Verkhnechonskneftegaz will take under wing families of individuals died in and after the accident, press service of the company told TASS.

"The company will take care of each family of died workers. An individual list of benefits and guarantees will be given to each family left without the wage-earner. The company will provide social support to families of victims and injured individuals in addition to required material support," the company’s representative said.

"The company is undertaking all the measures to provide workers injured in the accident at the Verkhnechonskoe field with competent medical aid. They were delivered by a special flight from Kirensk town to a hospital in Irkutsk," the representative added.

Backfire occurred in power plant’s fuel gas receiver during the startup performed by the contractor on the field, press service of Verkhnechonskneftegaz told TASS earlier today. A commission was setup to identify causes of the accident. Oil production on the field remains on track.

Verkhnechonskneftegaz is exploring and developing Verkhnechonskoe oil and gas condensate field, one of the largest fields in East Siberia.