3 Aug, 2017 01:48

35 Russian tourists among dozens injured in munition depot blast in Abkhazia (VIDEOS)

Dozens of people have been injured by explosions and the resultant fire at an ammunition depot in Abkhazia which lasted for four hours. Among the injured are 35 Russian nationals, the country’s authorities confirmed.

Huge flames and smoke could be seen rising from the ongoing explosions at the military warehouse in the village of Primorskoye which began at around 4:30pm local time.

Authorities quickly rushed to the scene to rescue the wounded, as the series of explosions continued for roughly four hours. Villagers were told to evacuate the area.

The Abkhazian military and Russian troops stationed in the country responded to the emergency.

No one was killed in the explosion but many were injured. Residents were allowed to return to their homes shortly after 8pm.

Tamaz Tsakhnakiya, Abkhazia's Health Minister noted that 27 people had been hospitalized from about sixty injured, four of whom were in "a serious but stable condition." Two people have undergone surgery with various shrapnel wounds, Interfax reported.

Some 35 tourists were among those wounded in the blast and all received adequate medical treatment, Tsakhnakiya added, according to Interfax.

The Russian embassy in Sukhumi confirmed that dozens of Russians were injured. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the incident.