One dead and dozens injured after fire at big Russian petrochemicals plant

One person died and 50 more were injured after a large fire broke out at a petrochemicals plant in Russia's Tatarstan region on Tuesday due to an unspecified equipment malfunction, the plant's owner said.

More than 60 firefighters were trying to contain the blaze at Nizhnekamskneftekhim, a sprawling complex which makes synthetic rubbers and plastics, said Sibur, Russia's largest petrochemicals firm and the plant's owner.

"Medical services are working at the scene, and the victims are receiving necessary assistance," Sibur said, adding that specialists were monitoring the surrounding air quality and had not detected any threats to the environment or local residents.

Russia's aviation regulator earlier on Tuesday briefly imposed temporary restrictions at the local airport in Nizhnekamsk, located about 1,000 km east of Moscow.

Radmir Belyaev, the local mayor, said in a statement that windows had been blown out in several apartment blocks.

Unconfirmed images on social media showed a large plume of smoke billowing into the sky from the complex after unconfirmed media reports that a a large explosion had sparked the fire.