Putin visits site of Russian power plant blast

Putin visits site of Russian power plant blastMoscow  - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday visited the remains of a Siberian hydro-electric power station that exploded Monday, reported the Interfax news agency.

Putin seemed shaken by the visit. Overnight, before his arrival, workers dug out more debris and discovered more bodies, bringing the death total to 26. Little hope remains for finding survivors among the remaining 49 missing, a plant manager told Interfax.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya plant, Russia's largest hydro-electric power plant, exploded early Monday. During the incident, the facility's turbine hall collapsed and flooded, though the exact order of events remains unclear.

Putin thanked rescue crews for their work and promised government assistance to the families of the victims. He also spoke to regional officials and technicians about supplying power to the region in the wake of the accident.

According to Russia's Environment Ministry, more than 30 tonnes of oil that had leaked from the wreckage has already been skimmed from the Yenisei river.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya power station had a capacity of 6,700 megawatts. The plant, which opened in 1978, has a dam which is 242 metres high and more than a kilometre wide.