Explosions have hit an industrial plant near the Russian Urals city of Chelyabinsk, killing at least four people.

Aleksei Teksler, governor of Chelyabinsk region, quoted preliminary information in saying on Telegram that the incident had occurred on Wednesday at a plant in the city of Kopeisk, just to the east of Chelyabinsk.

Teksler, who did not identify the plant, said in a later post that a second explosion had occurred and emergency crews were at the site to bring a fire under control.

Five people had been seriously hurt.

He said there was no indication the incident was linked in any way to drone activity.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry, quoted by news agencies, said emergency crews were bringing under control a fire which had broken out at the plant.

Australian Associated Press

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