A powerful explosion and subsequent fire at a coal processing plant injured four workers in Russia.

The incident occurred in the city of Neryungri, located in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), at the Neryungrinskaya enrichment plant, a key facility in Russia's mining industry on Wednesday, 7th May.

The explosion took place around 8 am local time, igniting coal stored in the warehouse.

The fire's area of damage is still being determined.

Eighteen rescuers and two units of equipment were dispatched to the scene.

The identities and the nature of injuries of the four workers who were wounded in the incident are currently being clarified.

The Neryungrinskaya enrichment plant, operational since December 1984, processes coal and other minerals mined in the region.

The facility employs approximately 1,000 people.

Coal enrichment plants, also known as coal preparation or coal washing plants, remove impurities like rocks and ash from raw coal to improve its quality and efficiency.

The process makes the coal cleaner-burning, more efficient for power generation and industrial use, and safer to transport and handle.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)