Explosion of gunpowder warehouse in Russian military base

The explosion happened on May 12, at magazine of an army unit in the village of Teysin, in the Amur district of Khabarovsk city, more than 6000 km east of Moscow.

An unnamed source told the news agency TASS: “The explosion occurred in the gunpowder depot of the military base during the loading and unloading of ammunition. The incident injured 7 people and mostly minor injuries. One person was killed.”

According to preliminary information from the Khabarovsk regional emergency service, careless handling of explosives may have caused the explosion of the gunpowder depot. The exact cause will be determined during the investigation.

RIA Novosti similarly reported, saying the explosion occurred in a gunpowder depot. The cause may be careless handling of flammable materials when loading and unloading ammunition.

An explosion of a gunpowder depot occurred at a military base in Khabarovsk, Russia’s Far East. Photo: RIA

Source of TASS added that a fire broke out after the explosion. Fire crews on the base and local firefighters are trying to put out the fire.

TASS According to the latest information from local health authorities, two of those injured in the explosion suffered severe burns, and were taken by helicopter to a hospital for treatment. “Two victims suffered burns to 65% and 40% of their body” – a representative of the local health authority said.

Two other people suffered minor burns and were treated at the scene. In addition, local health authorities did not provide information on the remaining injured.

The Teysin settlement is 82 km southeast of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East. There is a railway station of the same name and a military base in this settlement.