The latest reports coming from the scene of the Nayirit Chemical Plant in Yerevan, which was rocked by two power explosions at approximately 6:35 pm, is that there have been three confirmed deaths and eight wounded. The explosions caused a huge fire at a chloroprene production shop at Nayirit, the  largest synthetic rubber producing plant in the region. Four of the wounded are employees at the plant and four are firemen who fought the blaze that set black smoke billowing across the outskirts of Yerevan. Anush Harutunyan, the press secretary for Nayirit, stated that, "By 10 pm the situation is under control and the accident site has been localized. There are no toxic exhausts that have been released. The company has created a committee of specialists to uncover the causes of the accident and to study its consequences." A little before midnight, Elmira Gevorgyan, a nurse with the emergency services, denied earlier reports about a possible fourth victim. "At this time we have no such information. Suspicions regarding a fourth victim remain suspicions. A bit earlier search and rescue operations were halted due to poor visibility and will resume early tomorrow morning. Photos by Gagik Shamshyan