Seven die, eight injured in fire tragedy in oil region

'Seven people died, and eight people received injuries,' said the regional emergencies ministry.

Officials had earlier said four died in the blaze, but rescue teams found more bodies as they combed through the debris of the plant, said AFP citing regional emergencies spokesman, Sergei Didenko.

The fire spanned 4,000 square metres and was contained by emergency crews, it was reported. Itar-Tass described the scene of the fire as a slime utilisation plant, some 66 km north of the city of Khanty-Mansiysk.

The site belongs to Invest Oil Company, said reports. The cause of the industrial blaze was initially unclear, though some reports suggested it could have been an explosion. Residential areas were not threatened.