DEATH TOLL IN ARMENIAN RUBBER PLANT FIRE RISES TO FOUR

RIA Novosti
11:3715/05/2009

YEREVAN, May 15 (RIA Novosti) – Four people are now reported to have
died in a fire that broke out at a rubber plant in the Armenian capital
of Yerevan, the head of the city’s ambulance service said on Friday.

According to preliminary reports, there was an explosion in the
chloroprene section at the Nairit Plant at about 18:00 local time
[13:00 GMT] on Thursday. The blast was followed by a fire. About two
and a half hours later, a second powerful explosion occurred.

The fire at the plant was extinguished at about midnight and three
people were reported to have died.

"The fourth body was found earlier tonight and taken to a morgue,"
Artem Petrosyan said, adding that all of the injured had already been
released from hospital.

A criminal case has been launched in connection with the incident,
a police spokesman said.

The Nairit Plant has produced chloroprene rubber and latex since 1940.