DUSHANBE, October 8, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The number of Tajik nationals killed in a fire in the oil sludge-processing firm in the West Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk has risen to five as Abdunabi Egamberdiyev, 37, has died in a hospital in Moscow.

Russian state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, referring to an official source at Russia’s Investigative Committee, reported on Monday that Tajik national has died in a hospital in Moscow from burns sustained in the fire in the oil sludge-processing firm in Khanty-Mansiysk.

At least eight workers died after fire broke out in an oil sludge-processing firm on Saturday, September 29, in the West Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk, the hinterland of Russian crude production.

We will recall that four Tajik nationals died and at least one other injured in the fire in the oil-sludge-processing firm in Khanty-Mansiysk.  Among those died are Olimjon Sattorov, 44, Odil Olimov, 41, Qodirjon Hamroqulov, 37, and Hakim Boqiyev, 26.  Abdunabi Egamberdiyev, 37, sustained serious burns and was taken to a district hospital in Khanty-Mansiysk.  He was in serious health condition.

The investigation commission reportedly said the cause of the fire at a sludge storage could be an explosion, while RIA Novosti said, citing a law-enforcement source, the plant caught fire after gas exploded.

The fire was reported at 09:50 Moscow time at the plant, owned by the private Invest-Oil company.

Reuters reports that According to some estimates, more than 3 million tons of sludge is being generated in Russia as a result of oil and gas production and refining.