Tuesday, 16 June 2009
A commission to investigate the May 10 pipeline blast in Moscow has found that seven people bore responsibility for the accident, the chief of Moscow's gas distributor said on Tuesday.
The gas pipeline on Ozernaya Street in west Moscow exploded shortly after Russia finished celebrating Victory Day, sending flames up to 200 meters into the air. The fire, Moscow's largest since World War II, was extinguished after 15 hours. Five people were treated for burns and some 14 cars were set ablaze.
"The commission has established the set of individuals who were directly responsible for the accident," Mosgaz chief Gasan Gasangadzhiyev said. "In total there were seven people, three of whom were Mosgaz employees."
He added that two of the employees had been sacked, while the chief engineer had retained his post as he repeatedly tried to raise the alarm over the poor condition of the pipeline.
The other four people were employed by construction companies.
Russia's industry safety watchdog Rostekhnadzor said the blast was caused by construction and maintenance violations and poor quality materials.
