Fire at Amur Gas Chemical Complex Kills 7 Workers, Injures Dozens More

Aug. 26, 2026 A fire at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex on Aug. 25, 2026. @exilenova_plus / Telegram At least seven workers were killed and dozens of others were injured after a fire broke out at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex (AGCC) in Russia’s Far East, the company said Tuesday. Located near the Amur region town of Svobodny, AGCC is a $10 billion joint venture between Russian petrochemical giant Sibur and China’s state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec. Designed to become one of the world's largest polymer manufacturing facilities, the complex was undergoing final testing ahead of its planned launch in early 2027. In a statement on Tuesday, AGCC said the fire broke out in a support section of a pyrolysis unit. The company said primary equipment was not damaged. Nineteen workers were initially hospitalized with moderate to severe injuries. Another 104 workers received treatment for minor cuts and bruises, the company said. By Wednesday, AGCC said it recovered the bodies of six Chinese workers and one Russian. Nine Chinese contactors remain missing, it added. Consumer protection authorities said local air quality monitoring detected no toxic chemical spikes in Svobodny. The Amur region’s government said the incident posed no threat to people living in nearby towns. A commission has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire, AGCC said. Read more about: Amur region , Accidents , China Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Chinese Tourists Drown in Lake Baikal After Van Falls Through Ice Rescue divers recovered seven bodies after a UAZ van carrying nine people, including a Russian driver and Chinese tourists, plunged into Baikal, the world’s... 2 Min read Amur Region Court Jails Gold Mine Employees Over Deadly Collapse Thirteen miners were buried alive at the Pioneer Mine in the Amur region in March 2024 after a torrent of water and mud led to the collapse of the underground... 1 Min read Train Derailment Blocks Trans-Siberian Railway, Sparks Forest Fire A total of 29 cars carrying coal were derailed at 2:30 p.m. local time in Far East Russia’s Amur region. 1 Min read Russian Rescuers Call Off Search for Trapped Miners Emergency crews have been unable to establish contact with the 13 miners since a rock collapse two weeks ago. 1 Min read