UFA, Russia — Thousands of local residents have been evacuated after a fire at an ammunition depot in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan caused a series of explosions, RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir Service reports.
The fire and explosions occurred at a military base at Iglino, northeast of the republican capital, Ufa.
Iglino district governor Ilshat Safuanov told RFE/RL that some 7,000 people have been evacuated from the area. He said they have been temporarily housed in schools and kindergartens and provided with food and water.
Bashkortostan’s President Rustem Khamitov has reportedly visited the site of the blaze, which was still burning.
Railway lines to and from Iglino have been closed.
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