Death toll expected to rise in Russian dam blast

Amateur video footage shows the moment of Monday’s blast at Russia’s largest dam.

Sixty four people are still missing following the deadly impact in the plants turbine room — officials say the chances of finding any of them alive are remote.

12 dead and 15 injured is the current tally at the Sayano-Shushenskaya station in Siberia, but that is sure to rise.

It is thought the plant’s turbine was too old to be safe and the owners say the accident was caused by a hydraulic fault.

Alexander Tolshinov, spokesman for Rushydro, said: ‘‘We don’t think it was an explosion, it was most likely an hydraulic impact. Why did it happen, probably something to do with the destruction of the turbine.’‘

The company’s shares remain suspend in Moscow but there are deeper worries.

Particularly the environmental impact. The disaster has produced a large oil slick that is floating down Siberia’s Yenisei River.

The accident has also raised wider concerns over Russia’s infrastructure in general, however officials have been keen to stress there is no chance of the dam bursting.

Copyright © 2009 euronews

tags: Accident, Energy, Russia