More than 2,300 people evacuated after explosions at munitions depot in Russia

CNN Wire,
Russia Arsenal Fire
In this photo provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry of Ryazan region press service, fire trucks are parked next to the village as smoke rises after explosions fire at the arsenal in the Ryazan region, about 250 kilometers (about 155 miles) southeast of Moscow, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. A fire has engulfed a military arsenal in western Russia, triggering powerful explosions that have injured at least six and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents from nearby villages. Authorities said that the fire that erupted Wednesday at the arsenal in the Ryazan region that holds munitions had been sparked by burning grass. (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ryazan region press service via AP)

More than 2,300 people were evacuated from villages in the Russian region of Ryazan after a wildfire set off explosions at an ammunition depot, Russian state media reported Wednesday, citing the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The fire had not been contained as of Thursday morning, and more than 20 people were taken to hospital, the state news agency TASS reported, citing local officials.

Local authorities imposed a state of emergency in the region, located in western Russia.

The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon as strong winds spread a wildfire onto a military storage facility leading to “sporadic explosions” of ammunition, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The depot can store up to 75,000 tons of munitions and housed 113 storage facilities with missile and artillery munitions, with some of the high-explosive ammunition contained in open storage, RIA Novosti agency reported, citing emergency services.

At least 14 villages were evacuated within a five kilometer radius of the depot, and a motorway was closed down, Reuters reported, citing the Interfax news agency.

More than 20 buildings burned down in two populated areas, the TASS news agency reported, adding that a criminal case had been opened.

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