An explosion blamed on a technical problem caused a fire at an oil refinery in Iran during a visit by President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
Abdolreza Mehrban, managing director of the Abadan Oil Refinery, said one person was killed in the incident:
"Unfortunately we had an incident which led to a death," he said. "But the rest of the injuries were not severe and, apart from those who have been hospitalized, the others were treated at the scene and hopefully they will get better soon."
Earlier, the semi-official Fars news agency said six people were injured but Ahmadinejad was not hurt and appeared live on state television giving a scheduled speech to mark the inauguration of a new phase of the refinery in Abadan, south-western Iran.
The agency said that "a technical fault led to an explosion in one of the units of the refinery." It said thick fire was seen rising from the refinery but that firefighters had the blaze under control.
compiled from agency reports
Abdolreza Mehrban, managing director of the Abadan Oil Refinery, said one person was killed in the incident:
"Unfortunately we had an incident which led to a death," he said. "But the rest of the injuries were not severe and, apart from those who have been hospitalized, the others were treated at the scene and hopefully they will get better soon."
Earlier, the semi-official Fars news agency said six people were injured but Ahmadinejad was not hurt and appeared live on state television giving a scheduled speech to mark the inauguration of a new phase of the refinery in Abadan, south-western Iran.
The agency said that "a technical fault led to an explosion in one of the units of the refinery." It said thick fire was seen rising from the refinery but that firefighters had the blaze under control.
compiled from agency reports