In Kharkiv, fire at enterprise continues to be extinguished for second day after shelling – people may be under rubble in basement

On June 9, in Kharkiv, firefighting continues at an enterprise that broke out on the night of June 7 as a result of massive Russian shelling, rescuers are trying to reach the premises where people who are considered missing may be.

This was reported by Artem Astakhov, head of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service in the Kharkiv region.

“As a result of a massive strike on a civilian enterprise in the Kyiv district, significant destruction and fires occurred in four industrial buildings with a total area of ​​10,000 square meters. Two people were rescued from under the rubble, who were given respiratory protection masks to evacuate from the smoky zone. After the rescue operation, the building structure collapsed, as a result of which one rescuer was injured – his condition is satisfactory, with minor injuries. There is a possibility that six more people are under the rubble,” Astakhov said.

According to him, on the first day, 158 rescuers and 32 pieces of equipment, including robotic equipment from the State Emergency Service, worked at the site of the massive attack. On the morning of June 8, the fire was localized.

“Currently, fire extinguishing and emergency rescue operations are underway. 98 rescuers and 30 pieces of equipment have been involved, including additional forces from other garrisons of the State Emergency Service,” Astakhov noted.

According to the head of the department, the Russians struck the enterprise building with about 50 drones, guided by aerial bombs and missiles.

“The building consists of an administrative insert, even on two sides there are such inserts. In the middle there is an insert – a production one. It is a very complex building, and it is very battered and crushed. The entire structure is in a state of emergency, and this is certainly a threat to rescuers. The fire is being extinguished. Unpredictably, destruction and collapses occur. On June 9, work is underway to dismantle the emergency parts in parallel with extinguishing the fire. Very powerful forces from different regions, from other units of the State Emergency Service, arrived in the Kharkiv region to carry out these measures. All measures are being taken to dismantle all the structures and get to the basement, in which people are probably staying,” Astakhov emphasized.

He added that during air raids, work has to be stopped due to the risk of repeated strikes.

“Of course, when alarms sound, personnel are withdrawn from their positions. Then, when the alarm ends, they return to work again. Of course, these alarms delay the time for emergency rescue, search and fire extinguishing operations,” Astakhov noted.

On June 7, from three in the morning to five in the morning, Russian troops carried out one of the largest attacks on Kharkiv, almost 60 explosions were heard in the city. The Russians used 50 “shaheeds”, rockets and guided aerial bombs. The Kyiv and Osnovyanskyі districts were hit. Hits were recorded in a civilian enterprise, an apartment building and a private sector. 56 buildings were damaged in the city, fires broke out. Three people were killed and 22 injured. Six employees of the enterprise are considered missing.