Residents evacuated as Russia’s ammo disposal site explodesOctober 9, 2012 - 19:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Residents were evacuated on Tuesday, October 9 after munitions at a military ammunition disposal site exploded near the Donguz rail station in Russia’s Orenburg region, the Emergencies and Civil Defense Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti. A total of more than 4,000 tons of ammunition exploded, the Investigative Committee’s Chief Military Directorate said. “That included 1,379 tons of 100-mm shells, 400 tons of aviation bombs, and 2,000 280-mm rockets from Uragan multiple rocket launchers,” committee said in a press release. “Donguz has been partially evacuated, and road traffic on the Sol-Lipetsk highway has been stopped,” a ministry source said. The alarm was sounded at 10:57 a.m. Moscow time, after a fire broke out at the depot 25 miles (40 km) from Orenburg, followed by three explosions. There were no reports of casualties so far, the ministry said. The explosion took place after a fire, the Izvestia daily reported. Smoke billowed from the depot for about 10 minutes so the nearly 300 officers and soldiers had enough time to run to a safe distance and no one was hurt. The military base has been cordoned off with over 200 rescuers and army sappers working at the scene. They will look for unexploded munitions for their subsequent disposal. The incident is the latest in a series of blasts involving munitions disposal sites and firing ranges in Russia in the last few 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 | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |