Hearings begin in Volgograd explosion case that killed 6
The closing arguments in the criminal case concerning the explosion at sewer pump station No. 4 (KNS-4) have begun in the Krasnoarmeysky District Court of Volgograd.
The tragic events unfolded in July 2024. On the night of 5 July, an electric motor burned out at the facility in the Krasnoarmeysky district. On the same day, EMERCOM employees recorded at the station a multiple exceedance of the maximum permissible gas concentrations:
- carbon dioxide — 58 times;
- hydrogen sulfide — 8 times.
The concentration was reduced with the help of an additional fan, however on 5 July, foreman Mikhail Kurakin died at the station.
On 6 July, on the instruction of the chief engineer of the company «Water Supply Concessions», Dmitry Lebedev, work began on KNS-4 to install an additional exhaust system. Involved in this were the shift supervisor, an electric and gas welder, and three repair fitters.
On the same day, during the work at the station, a powerful explosion occurred, which completely destroyed the KNS-4 building. As a result, five workers died:
- shift supervisor Yuri Zuev;
- welder Vladimir Kuznetsov;
- fitter Oleg Korolchenko;
- electrician-fitter Mikhail Khokhlov;
- fitter Alexander Shestopalov.
The body of Alexander Shestopalov was found by rescuers only on 20 July.
Thus, as a result of two days in July, six people died at the facility. All court hearings are being covered online.
