Ukraine's biggest blaze in 50 years Massive fire engulfs oil plant near Kiev. Photos and videos

A massive fire is raging at an oil plant near Kiev. 17 storage tanks are ablaze, each of them containing 900 cubic meters (32,000 cubic feet) of petrol. According to the latest reports, one person has died and 14 people have been injured or poisoned by the fumes. Several firefighters are reportedly missing. 

According to the Ukrainian Emergency Services, the fire began Monday evening in one of the storage tanks, and spread to neighboring containers. On Tuesday morning, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov tweeted that a “giant” explosion occurred in the midst of the fires, killing several firefighters. There have been no statements about the cause of the fire.

Officials are evacuating people from the area near the fire. The city council of Vasylkiv, the closest village to the facility, has told local residents to close their windows and avoid going outside. The closest military base is also mobilizing personnel and equipment (including air transport) to assist in the evacuation, in the event that the fire spreads further.

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations has formally reached out to officials in Kiev, sending condolences for the killed firefighters and offering to provide "any assistance necessary" to help put out the flames.

Kiev’s head of Emergency Services, Valeriy Boris, said Ukraine has not seen a fire like this since the 1960s. 

Meduza collects images and videos from the scene.