Ukraine: death toll rises in Kiev fire

The death toll in a fuel depot fire in Kiev has risen to four, with firefighters still at the scene of the blaze they were able with great difficulty to bring under control Tuesday. At least four people,  including three emergency ministry employees,  have died in the conflagration at the storage facility. Experts say Ukraine and at least parts of the European Union may suffer from acid rain as a result of the deadly incident.

Click below to hear the latest report from correspondent Stefan Bos

Ukrainian authorities say at least four people,  including three emergency ministry employees,  have died in a huge fire at an oil and gas storage facility near Kiev amid concerns that Europe will face the impact of the blaze. Experts suggest that Ukraine and the European Union may suffer from acid rain. 

Footage shows people filming the blaze running away after another explosion. Yet it's too late for many as several people have already died. Kiev's Mayor Vitaly Klitschko says he fire at this fuel depot, next to an army base near the town of Vasylkiv, sent huge plumes of smoke over the surrounding area.

He warns that harmful substances in the air over the city exceeded maximum allowed levels. The boxer champion-turned mayor also urged residents with respiratory problems limit their "exposure to the open air". 

Authorities say the the cause of the blaze about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Kiev is being investigated, but they have not ruled out negligence or arson.

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The Ukrainian army says it has moved away arms and ammunition from a military base, located just 50 meters from the site. Ukraine has experienced small scale bombings in several parts of the country linked to the conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.   

With fighting ongoing, this blaze comes at a worsted moment for the central government in Kiev. 

And experts have warned that Ukraine and at least parts of the European Union may suffer from acid rain that could cause cancer and other diseases caused by the fire.

SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM 

The European Committee on Radiation Risks says the storage facility incident will be “a significant environmental health probleman”.

“These fires produce carbon nanoparticles and produce contamination with a lot of cancer-producing substances,” says its main expert, Christopher Busby, adding that they can lead to heart attacks and strokes within about a week of exposure. Busby, has urged authorities to monitor drinking water supplies of potentially millions of people.  “If that rain gets into the water supply, it will be a problem because it can cause cancer,” Busby explained in an interview with Russia Today television. “So somebody will need to monitor the water supply and divert freshwater to people who are drinking water from the contaminated sources.”

In his words it's time for prayer, adding that he hopes the fire will be extinguished within a few days.