Russian Ammo Dump On Fire - 7,500 Evacuated

Pravda: 7,000 people evacuated from flaming ammunition depot in Russia's Far East

10/01/2005



According to Georgy Romanovich, explosions have become less powerful. "The last powerful explosions rocked the burning ammunition depot two or three hours ago," said he.

The burning ammunition depots are located some 50 kilometers far from the regional center, the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Officials say that it is still impossible to start extinguishing the fire because of ongoing explosions. "Special services can only observe the area for the time being," said he.

Spokesmen for the regional department of the Russian EMERCOM told Interfax, however, that about 7,000 people had been evacuated form the dangerous area in the Kamchatka region of Russia's Far East. The most powerful explosions took place in the middle of the night; three of the blasts were especially strong, Interfax said.



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MosNews: 7,500 Villagers Evacuated After Explosions at Ammunition Depots in Russia’s Far East

01.10.2005

About 7,500 people have been evacuated from their villages in the far eastern region of Kamchatka after a fire began in the military stores late Friday, causing explosions of ammunition, RIA Novosti reported.

The incident occurred 93 miles north of the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The stores reportedly belong to the Joint Group of Troops and Naval Forces of Northeastern Russia, linked to the Pacific Fleet. The Kamchatka Peninsula is home to Russia’s major naval base.

Several people recieved slight injuries, Emergency officials told journalists. The fire is still in action.

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RIA Novosti: Fire at Kamchatka arms depot may have been caused by arson -- prosecutors

01/ 10/ 2005

Shell fragments at the scene of the accident were flying to a range of up to 4 km.Local authorities closed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky airport, thus cutting the peninsula off from the mainland.

All residents living within 15 km around the base were evacuated to the town of Elizovo. In all, about 7,500 people live in the area, the Emergency Situations Ministry Kamchatka Territorial Administration said.

The Military Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation. "Special attention will be given to the theory that the fire may have been caused by arson designed to cover up the theft of ammunition," a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet Prosecutor's Office said.

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RIA Novosti: Defense Ministry depots still ablaze in Far East

02/ 10/ 2005

The Defense Ministry's ammo depots in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East that caught fire Friday night are still burning, a high-ranking military official said Sunday.

It is still unclear why the fire occurred, but one of the versions voiced by a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet Prosecutor's Office is that "the fire may have been caused by arson designed to cover up the theft of ammunition."

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