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Samara testing range is of no danger to local residents

Sporadic blasts continue because of a heat wave

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, June 20 (Itar-Tass) - The Samara testing range poses no threat to local residents, and half of them have already returned home, sources from the emergency headquarters told Tass on Thursday.

“Indeed, sporadic blasts continue because of a heat wave which has also become the cause of the fire at the forest belt where the blasts sent fragments flying, and now they are detonating. This morning engineer equipment examined the testing range, and according to specialists of Rostechnadzor (the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision), it poses no threat to the settlement of Nagorny,” an officer from the headquarters said.

As a result of unsanctioned explosions, 43 people have been injured, including 12 hospitalized, and one person died, according to RME official.

The necessary medical aid is being given to the victims of the explosions.

The only man that died worked at the testing range. He tried to hide in a shelter when explosions started.

The regional government plans to issue a 10,000 rouble compensation to those wounded in the explosions and will replace broken windows in the village of Nagorny located close to the testing range. Over 1,500 people assisted by 230 units of hardware, including eight aircraft and two fire trains, have been taking part in the liquidation of the aftermaths of the emergency situation. More than 6,500 locals of Nagorny were evacuated.

The press service of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reported on Wednesday that five explosions had occurred one after another at an open area of the Privolzhskiy testing ground for munitions which belongs to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce near the town of Chapayevsk in the Samara region. The blasts caused a fire. Fire fighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the village of Nagorny and the fire was succesfully put out.

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