MOSCOW (Reuters) – Local media and telegraph channels close to Russian security services ripped a powerful explosion in a Russian town east of Moscow on Tuesday, prompting several villages to evacuate.
Local authorities declared a state of emergency in the Vladimir region, and unverified videos posted on the telegram showed huge fireballs and thick smoke overwhelming the sky.
The Ministry of Defense said the fire was caused by a violation of security requirements, causing ammunition stored in the warehouse to detonate.
The ministry added that preliminary information showed no casualties.
Vladimir's governor Alexander Avdeev said earlier that an explosion occurred in the Kirzhach area and that first responders were working on the scene. He did not mention the hit.
Telegram channel Baza, which is close to security services, said at least 10 to 111 explosions, and firefighters from neighboring areas were summoned to contain the fire.
The Kirzach Regional Government wrote in a telegram that the villages in Basovo and Mirny are being evacuated.
(Reuters report; writing by Lucy Papachristou; editing by Alexandra Hudson)
