In Irkutsk, on the morning of May 23, the Research Institute of Noble and Rare Metals and Diamonds ("Irgiredmet") caught fire. According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation for the Irkutsk region, the fire originated in one of the offices on the top, fourth floor. The fire quickly spread to the roof and covered 700 square meters, after which firefighters managed to localize the blaze.
33 employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 10 units of equipment, and three gas and smoke protection units worked at the scene. Personnel were evacuated from the building. There were no fatalities or injuries.
JSC "Irgiredmet" (Irkutsk Research Institute of Noble and Rare Metals and Diamonds) is the leading scientific center in Russia in the field of precious and rare metals and diamonds. It possesses unique competencies in geology, beneficiation, metallurgy, and mining enterprise design. It includes 10 technological laboratories and a design section.