Medical staff have provided updates on victims injured in an emergency incident at the Kazzinc plant in Oskemen, Kazakhstan, where several workers were rushed to hospital following the accident.

Five people - four men and one woman - were brought in. Three of them were treated for minor bruises and abrasions and later discharged, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Two patients, however, required hospitalization.

Doctors say a man, 46 , is in extremely critical condition, suffering from severe burns covering more than 90% of his body, as well as respiratory tract and corneal injuries. He is also in post-traumatic shock and has received emergency intensive care.

The second patient, 52 , was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the third lumbar vertebra with additional damage to bone processes. He has been admitted to the trauma department.

Hospital officials said the first emergency alert about mass casualties was received at 08:30 (GMT+5), with specialized response teams deployed within minutes as patients began arriving at 08:45.