Russian defence ministry confirms explosion of ammunition storage in Crimea

Russian Defence Ministry has said that the ammunition storage has "detonated" at the military base in Crimea.

"On 16 August at 06:15 Moscow time, a fire broke out in the settlement of Mayskoye (Dzhankoy District) in a diked area of the temporary ammunition storage of one of the military bases. As a result, the detonation of stored ammunition has occurred," the ministry said in an official statement cited by Interfax news agency on August 16. 

"According to the report from the field, at the moment no severely injured individuals have been identified," the ministry said adding that the fire was being extinguished and the investigation was ongoing to identify the cause.

Earlier, numerous reports appeared on Russian social media containing videos of explosions.

Crimean head Sergei Aksyonov said before the ministry's statement that the detonations were continuing and that two civilians had been injured. The evacuation of residents was in progress.

On August 9, aviation ammunition detonated at the Saki military airfield in Crimea, as a result of which one person died and 14 were injured.