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The scene of the fire caused many explosions – Photo: Twitter / kpru
On October 7, thousands of people from more than 14 villages in central Russia were evacuated after a fire “swallowed” a military base there, spread to the arsenal and caused many explosions, according to Radio RT.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the burned ammunition base was outside the village of Zheltukhino in the Ryazan region on October 7. Initially, the grass at the military base caught fire and then spread to the armory.
The explosion can be seen from afar – Photo: VK
Witnesses told local media that burned weapons cause explosions every 10 seconds. A cloud of black smoke flew a few hundred meters from the site, while explosions could be heard from a distance.
At least 14 villages within a 5 km radius of the military base have been evacuated, along with soldiers. According to the news agency TassAmong the evacuees, there are almost 150 children.
According to the AFP news agency, a total of more than 2,000 people were evacuated. “Fires and black smoke rose into the sky over an arsenal of weapons believed to contain around 75,000 tons of ammunition,” reported AFP.
A nearby major highway is being blocked to avoid endangering traffic, Russia’s Emergency Situation Ministry said.
The scene of the explosion in Ryazan of Russia – Video: RT
The Russian Defense Ministry said there were currently no casualties. However, local media reported that at least 2 people were injured in the blast and asked to be hospitalized. One of the victims was a woman, transferred to an intensive care unit for a head injury.
The Ryazan region is located about 185 km south of the Russian capital, Moscow. Russian Minister of State of Emergency Evgeny Zinichev and military experts flew to the scene.
“Strong winds caused the fire to spread to the site of the artillery shell. Firefighters on guard at the base began to put out the fire but failed. Sporadic explosions occurred,” reported the Western Russian Military Region.
The local fire department dispatched fire fighting crews to the scene, with more than 400 people participating in putting out the fire. An Il-76 aircraft of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations also prepared to participate in the firefighting. The ministry also plans to use three Mi-8 helicopters, robotic equipment, to help.
