Thousands evacuated in Ukraine as ammunition depot explodes

 

Smoke and flames rise over a warehouse storing ammunition for multiple rocket launcher systems at a military base in the town of Kalynivka in Vinnytsia region, Ukraine September 27, 2017. REUTERS/Yurii Basiuk

 

KIEV (Reuters) - Massive explosions and a blaze at a military ammunition depot in central Ukraine forced authorities to evacuate 24,000 people and close airspace over the region, officials said on Wednesday.

 

The blasts occurred late on Tuesday at a military base near Kalynivka in the Vynnytsya region, 270 kilometres (168 miles) west of Kiev, Ukrainian emergencies service said in a statement.

 

One person was injured, it said.

 

Arriving in the region hours later, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said "external factors" were behind the incident.

 

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-27

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Arriving in the region hours later, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said "external factors" were behind the incident.

Hmmmm....

No boots on the ground...

Only 1 person injured. Not bad.

Remember the 'Death Star"?  One fatal flaw built into the design? I'm betting that the Russians designed this rocket factory.