MOSCOW, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were injured in a major fire that broke out at a heat-and-power plant in the Moscow region on Thursday, Russian media quoted sources in the emergency services as saying.
The fire took place at a high-pressure natural gas station in the plant in the city of Mytishchi, north of the Russian capital, causing flames that were 50 meters high, RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing a spokesman of the regional emergency services.
Personnel from the Russian Emergencies Ministry have extinguished the column of fire, but the fire area has increased to 800 square meters from the previously reported 200 square meters, according to a representative of the ministry's regional service.
Employees of a car shop located near the plant were reportedly hurt in the fire, according to Interfax news agency.
Two helicopters and two fire-fighting trains have been sent to the scene to extinguish the fire, Sputnik news agency reported.
Preliminary investigation showed that the accident started from an oil tank which caught fire, according to the Russian Energy Ministry.
Moscow is at no risk of blackout despite the fire, as backup generators have been switched on, the ministry added.
The power station provides electricity and heat to some residents in Mytishchi as well as north and northeast of the Russian capital.
