An explosion at a thermal power plant in Orenburg, Russia, caused a fire on the morning of April 13, leaving many local residents without power, according to the Emergency Situations Ministry of Russia.

The fire broke out at a transformer substation, covering an area of approximately 10 square meters. The cause has been linked to a short circuit at the substation. The fire was quickly extinguished by a team of 20 firefighters, with no casualties reported. The thermal plant is located near a Lukoil gas station, but no damage was reported to nearby facilities.

The disruption caused temporary power outages in Orenburg, a region crucial for energy distribution near Russia's border with Kazakhstan. While the fire has been contained, the incident highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities of the country's energy infrastructure, which has been increasingly targeted by Ukrainian drones during the conflict.