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On August 17, 2009, Unit 2 at Russia's Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant suffered a catastrophic turbine failure that killed 75 workers.

The failure of the turbine anchoring system began at 8:13 a.m. The 1,860-ton turbine cover was blown off and the turbine was ejected into the turbine gallery. A breach in Unit 2's penstock released a deluge of water, flooding the turbine gallery and lower levels.

Short circuits and explosions followed in the areas of Units 7 and 9. The number of fatalities was increased because maintenance work had left close to 100 people on the turbine floor.