Initially, the YSU reported only fire, saying that it began in one of the rooms of the basement floor in Building N1. It said that the fire was extinguished and “appropriate actions” were being taken. It said the fire was caused by a voltage fluctuation, but did not elaborate.
The Ministry of Health, in its turn, reported that three persons were hospitalized from the scene of the fire at one of the YSU buildings. It said all three were getting the necessary medical care and undergoing examinations. No other details regarding their current conditions were reported immediately. The Ministry of Health also confirmed that one person was killed in the fire.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs later reported that an explosion took place in the 100-square-meter basement of YSU’s chemistry department that caused a subsequent fire.
The report said that the room where the blast occurred was intended for a pumping station, but it also served as a dressing room for maintenance workers. It said that next to it was a room for storage of chemicals, but there was no fire in that room. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that an on-site investigation was carried out by chemists and no dangerous gases were detected in the air.
The ministry reported that one of the employees died on the spot and three people were taken to hospital, including one patrol service officer who was hospitalized with symptoms of smoke inhalation and whose condition is currently assessed as satisfactory.
The ministry said the rescue service was alerted to the incident at 9:40 am. It said the fire in the university basement was contained at 10:11 a.m. and extinguished at 10:23 a.m.
“Household items and wooden structures were burned in the compressor room. Investigation is underway to find out the circumstances of the incident,” it said.