Fire Injures Four at Mechel Coal Plant in Neryungri, Yakutia

A methane fire broke out at Mechel's coal processing plant in Neryungri, northeastern Russia, injuring four people and prompting the evacuation of staff. The blaze originated in a finished goods warehouse, causing damage to plant infrastructure including warehouses and a conveyor belt before being extinguished. Over 50 firefighters and a dozen pieces of equipment were deployed to control the fire, with authorities citing challenges due to the plant's design and the presence of flammable materials. Reports surfaced on Russian Telegram channels alleging an explosion at the site, though these claims have not been independently verified. The plant, a major facility in the region with an annual capacity of nine million tons of coking coal, has halted operations while the situation is under investigation. There is no current timeline for when work at the plant will resume.