Oilfield explosion kills 3 people in Russian Siberia

MOSCOW - Three people have died in an explosion and subsequent fire at an oilfield in the Irkutsk Region in Russia's Siberia, TASS news agency reported Wednesday.

The accident at Rosneft's Verkhnechonskoye oilfield injured three others, with two in critical condition, it said.

The accident was caused by a snapped fuel gas receiver, the report said.

Rosneft is the leading player of Russia's petroleum industry, and holds 99.94 percent of the shares of Verkhnechonskneftegaz, which is engaged in the exploration and development of the Verkhnechonskoye oil and gas condensate field, one of the largest in Eastern Siberia.