Two workers were killed when a 200-liter tank of engine oil exploded in a motor depot in Nizhniy Novgorod on Jan. 27, the Russian state agency Itar-Tass reported.

The incident occurred in the Stroigaz construction companys yard, the Russian emergency situations ministrys local department told the agency.

The blast occurred when a fork lift operator and a truck driver, were transferring the engine oil to smaller containers using a hose connected to a truck tanker loaded with 4.5 tons of motor oil.

The emergency department sent 17 rescuers and firefighters with five emergency vehicles to extinguish the flames occurred after the blast. The explosion didnt harm the oil tanker or the nearby motor depot facilities. Investigators from the local police and prosecution offices will soon open a criminal case, according to Itar-Tass.