Syria says power plant blast killed 3 during maintenance

Syrian officials said a hydrogen tank explosion during maintenance at the Banias thermal power plant in western Syria killed three workers on Tuesday.

Alaa Sawda, head of media at the Syrian Electricity Company, told the official SANA news agency that the blast happened while workers were replacing the tank's float valve. He said the plant continued operating and was not affected by the explosion.

SANA had earlier said the cause was under investigation and cited a regional health official for the death toll. The plant is in Tartus province and is one of Syria's most important electricity facilities.

Syria's electricity network was badly damaged during the civil war, with power cuts that can last up to 20 hours a day. Since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in 2024, Syria's new authorities have repeatedly pledged to increase electricity production.