Villages Evacuated After Munitions Depot Explodes In Western Russia

By RFE/RL's Russian Service October 07, 2020

Russia has evacuated more than 1,600 people from villages near a munitions depot that exploded in the western Ryazan region.

The Ministry of Defense said on October 7 that the explosion was sparked by a grass wildfire.

No casualties have been reported.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, helicopters and special fire crews have been deployed to battle the fire.

Social-media users posted videos of black smoke rising from the fire and continuous explosions.

Villages within a 5-kilometer radius were evacuated and traffic on the R-22 highway was blocked.

"The walls are trembling even in neighboring villages," an eyewitness told RZN.info.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/villages-evacuated- after-munitions-depot-explodes -in-western-russia/30880813.html

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