Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A repeated hydrogen sulfide leak occurred at the "Mustakillik-25" gas field in Baysun district of Surkhandarya region on 17 September.

Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Minister of Ecology, Environment, and Climate Change, confirmed the incident at a press conference on 18 September.

He reported that a government commission, including representatives from the Ministry of Ecology, arrived at the site on September 2 for monitoring. Mobile laboratories and Eco Lab equipment were deployed to measure gas levels at various points in the field. Joint research with the Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare Committee was conducted from September 1 to 15, with data sent to the republican headquarters.

Following the repeat leak on September 17, the Ministry of Ecology dispatched personnel to the site again. Kazbekov stated that the hydrogen sulfide leak has not been confirmed, and no exceedances of harmful gas standards were recorded. He attributed the incident to technical issues in production and noted that gas measurements did not show exceedances.

Uktam Utaev, head of the General Prosecutor’s Office, reported that two people had died and several were injured. Later reports confirmed the number of fatalities had risen to four. Utaev also noted the evacuation of residents from nearby settlements, who have been relocated to safe areas. The General Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing compensation and the welfare of the affected citizens.

The Surkhandarya regional administration announced a briefing on the evening of September 18, where Minister of Emergency Situations Abdulla Kuldashev and Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov are expected to speak.

It is worth noting that the first hydrogen sulfide leak at this field was recorded on 1 September, and on 15 September, the company ERIELL reported the successful completion of well capping for well #604 at the "Mustakillik-25" field.