Major incident near Zhytomyr: casualties rise to over 80, dozens of homes damaged
On a tragic evening in the village of Berezina, located in the Zhytomyr region, a powerful explosion occurred near the Kyiv-Chop highway. As a result of this incident, more than 80 individuals were injured, including four who are in serious condition. Two deaths were immediately reported, and the explosion caused extensive destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure. Vitaliy Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, stated that the number of victims continues to grow, with 38 people now hospitalized, among them four children receiving medical aid. The condition of the injured is mostly moderate or mild, offering hope for recovery. Additionally, one foreign national involved in the incident received necessary assistance, shelter, and treatment. The explosion damaged approximately 100 households, with a quarter of them destroyed completely. The government has promised immediate recovery efforts and compensation to those affected. The fire at the scene has been extinguished, and ongoing investigations seek to determine the causes of the tragedy. The traffic along the M-06 highway has been fully restored, with all restrictions lifted. Preliminary reports indicate that the explosions occurred at 6:00 pm on July 2, when two industrial facilities in Berezina, near Zhytomyr, suffered severe damage, halting traffic on one of Ukraine’s main transportation arteries.