Thousands evacuated as fire hits ammunition depot in central RussiaJune 19, 2013 - 09:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Over 30 people sought medical help, 11 were hospitalized and more than 6,000 local residents were evacuated on Tuesday, June 18 from a village near an ammunition depot in central Russia where a fire caused massive explosions of stored artillery shells, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti. The fire at the Volga Federal Ammunition Testing Site in the Samara Region broke out late Tuesday, followed by a series of explosions that continue to rock the area, sending shrapnel to a distance of up to a kilometer from the site, according to the ministry. A ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti the depot stores some 6,000 122-mm artillery shells as well as other ammunition and explosives, and, in the worst case scenario, the blasts could continue for two or three days. Prosecutors are conducting a probe into the incident. Investigators said a wildfire could have caused the fire at the testing range. The Emergencies Ministry said there was no chemical threat to the population. More than 1,400 personnel and over 220 units of machinery and equipment, including eight aircraft and two firefighting trains, have been deployed to contain the fire and explosions, the ministry said. There are plans to use four helicopters. The incident is the latest in a string of fires and explosions at munitions storage and disposal sites that have plagued Russia in the past two years. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | IDBank, Dalma team up for Caucasian Deer Reintroduction Program IDBank has joined Dalma Garden Mall’s Green Challenge to support the Caucasian red deer reintroduction project. Through Ucom’s support the 12th Sunchild Festival concludes On May 24-28, with the support of Ucom, the 12th international environmental festival Sunchild took place in Yerevan. U.S., Turkey emphasize importance of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal Jake Sullivan and Akif Cagatay Kilic have discussed the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia coach expects good football in Slovenia friendly The Armenian national team has left for Ljubljana a friendly match against Slovenia on June 4. |