This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8204860.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Seven die at Russia power station Deadly Russia power plant blast
(about 2 hours later)
An accident at Russia's largest hydro-electric power station has killed seven workers and forced the plant's closure. At least 54 people are missing after an explosion at Russia's largest hydro-electric power station killed eight workers, investigators say.
An apparent surge in water pressure caused pipes to burst at the Sayano-Shushenskaya power station in Siberia, flooding a turbine hall. The accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya power station in Siberia happened when an oil-filled transformer exploded in a turbine hall, they added.
Eleven people were injured, but towns downstream of the Siberia power station were not at risk, officials said. This damaged the wall and ceiling of the turbine hall which then flooded.
Major aluminium plants nearby were forced to switch to alternative sources of electricity after the incident. At least 10 other workers were injured and production at the plant has been halted as an investigation continues.
Production at the plant had been halted as a result of Monday morning's accident, said a spokesman for RusHydro, the hydroelectric power giant that owns the station. "The explosion ruined a wall and ceiling of the machine room housing turbines," Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the special commission investigating the incident, was quoted as telling Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.
Towns downstream of the power station were not thought to be at risk.
Lengthy repairsLengthy repairs
Russia's emergencies ministry said it would take several years to restore the pipes ruptured in Monday morning's accident. Russia's emergencies ministry said it would take several years to restore pipes ruptured in the incident.
The Sayano-Shushenskaya power station before the accident
"I believe that it will take years not months to repair three of the 10 units," Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency."I believe that it will take years not months to repair three of the 10 units," Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.
A special commission is investigating the accident. Major aluminium plants nearby were forced to switch to alternative sources of electricity after the accident.
The Sayano-Shushenskaya power station is located in the Siberian region of Khakassia, some 1,875 miles (3,000 km) east of Moscow. The Sayano-Shushenskaya power station is located in the Siberian region of Khakassia, some 1,875 miles (3,000 km) east of Moscow, and owned by RusHydro, the hydroelectric power giant.
Opened in 1978, the station is a major supplier of power to at least two smelters owned by United Company RUSAL, the world's largest aluminium producer.Opened in 1978, the station is a major supplier of power to at least two smelters owned by United Company RUSAL, the world's largest aluminium producer.
UC RUSAL said all of its plants were operating as normal with alternative power supplies.UC RUSAL said all of its plants were operating as normal with alternative power supplies.