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About 2,000 people evacuated from village in Udmurtia due to blasts on former army base

The fire area has expanded to 50 hectares

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. Evacuation of about 2,000 residents is underway in the village of Pugachevo, Udmurtia region in western Urals, because of munition blasts caused by a fire on a former army base located nearby, the press service of the regional center of the Ministry for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense told TASS.

Emergency workers are evacuating the people to a nearby township.

"The 2,000 or so people are being taken to the town of Malaya Purga, 7 km away from Pugachevo," an official told TASS.

The area engulfed by fire has increased to 50 hectares, the press service of the regional center of the Ministry for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense said.

Earlier reports said the fire was blazing on an area of 20 hectares.

"At present, grass is burning on an area of 50 hectares,"an official said.