Explosions at Russian ammunition site triggers mass evacuation
Eight people have been injured after explosions at a Russian military ammunition depot in Siberia prompted thousands of workers and nearby residents to evacuate.
A fire triggered the explosions at a storage facility for gunpowder charges near the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in the region and ordered the evacuation of residents of several districts in Achinsk, as well as towns and villages within 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) of the depot.
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Regional Gov.Alexander Uss said 6,000 people were being evacuated under the order.
Air traffic was suspended within 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) of the munitions site.
Videos posted by local residents showed powerful explosions sending plumes of black smoke high into the sky.
Ammunition depot explosions are not unusual in Russia.
After the most recent incident in May 2018, a fire raged for almost a week before water drops from military aircraft and helicopters helped put out the blaze.