Published time: 28 Feb, 2017 18:43
Edited time: 28 Feb, 2017 19:32

Huge explosions have erupted at an ammunition depot near the Serbian capital of Belgrade, followed by a fire and a weird-looking cloud hovering in the blue skies.

At least one person was killed and 25 others injured after two blasts at the military facility in the city of Kragujevac, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the capital, AP reported citing Serbia's defense ministry.

The Defense Minister, Zoran Djordjevic headed to the scene, public broadcaster RTS (http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/135/hronika/2647496/pozar-u-remontnom-zavodu-u-kragujevcu.html)reported.

Several people are still missing, as a roof collapsed, possibly trapping more people inside the facility, AP reported citing local media.

”The missing people are inside the danger zone which we currently cannot access," Djordjevic said, adding that the military is sending a robot and a drone to aid the search and rescue operation.

Those who have been taken to hospital are mostly suffering from severe burns, according to AP citing local hospital officials.

#kragujevac#eksplozijapic.twitter.com/xeul00zmBh

— Sasa Simic (@sima_tweet) February 28, 2017

The depot, where mines and other ammunition are stored, was hit first by the blast in the afternoon on Tuesday. A second blast followed shortly, according to the Balkan Insight.

Many firefighter brigades were on the scene to battle the blaze, RTS reported, adding that the incident happened at a Technical Repair Bureau.

According to local media, the explosions were so strong, they were widely heard by the locals, with some of them saying they felt windows vibrating in their houses.

#Kragujevac#eksplozija#požar

Dobro se zatreslo u KG i mnogo mi je žao ljudi koji su povređeni.🙏

cc @izglave@Constrictoria@katarinakgpic.twitter.com/Xp80KWVVWX

— Jelena M. Kandić (@OsmehSaStavom) February 28, 2017

The military facility has recently undergone renovations funded by NATO, Belgrade's N1 TV channel reported.

According to an agreement with the military alliance, some 2,000 tons of ammunition have been earmarked for destruction at the facility within the next two years, it said.

Jedna osoba poginula, tri nestale u eksploziji u Kragujevcuhttps://t.co/PuAnG0LUOgpic.twitter.com/kryCLGkCdf

— Insajder (@Insajder_net) February 28, 2017

More:

https://www.rt.com/viral/378944-serbia-ammunition-explosion-cloud/

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HOW COME TO THE TRAGEDY; Reconstruction of explosion that shook Kragujevac
T. M. S. | 01. 03. 2017 - 13:46

Drama in Kragujevac, which has lasted for more than 24 hours began when a warehouse where there was a large quantity of mines and other types of ammunition exploded. Shortly after the first explosion, and while firefighters were extinguished the fire, there was another one, in which one person was killed and three are missing and two are still missing. The cause of the explosion is not known, although insiders say that in magazine were performed a very dangerous activities.

Since the first explosion in a warehouse full of HEAT grenades A28, which occurred on Tuesday at 13 and 20 shook the windows in the entire Kragujevac.

Immediately after the explosion at the scene were sent to all available fire fighting vehicles and and ambulances - Institute for Emergency Medical Services sent a five vehicles and one fire-rescue brigade in Kragujevac, that is six fire trucks and one off-road vehicle, with the 19 firefighters.

In the first explosion, fortunately, nobody was hurt, but the 76 workers remained trapped in a special facility TRZ in which they felt protected.

What they all on the ground feared came true during fire fighting which involved firefighters, policemen and several employees in TRZ - during the campaign echoed another explosion, and then collapsed the roof of a warehouse.

The fire was localized sometime after 17 o'clock.

The tragic outcome of another explosion

Lt. Col. Miroslav Perišić was killed in the second explosion and injured 25 firefighters and members of the MUP, who extinguished the fire. Three people have not yet been found for them, and now searching.

These are the captain Darko Kostic and two civilians employed by the TRZ: Dejan Kovacevic and Zeljko Nikolic, whose families are from yesterday in the greatest uncertainty.

"THE REST IS JUST WAITING FOR THE" Families of the missing first entered the place of explosion

The workers, 76 of them, who were trapped in a separate building where they hid after the first explosion were safely evacuated and they are all good. They returned to their homes.

Troy with serious injuries, two were transferred to Belgrade

The injured firefighters and members of the MUP were disposed of in the Kragujevac Clinical Center. Three patients had severe injuries but fortunately all out f ?? endanger life. Two patients were transported overnight to the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

In Kragujevac immediately after the explosion came ministrar Defence Zoran Djordjevic, who yesterday visited the injured in KC.

Read more

DRAMA IN KRAGUJEVAC Robot and four drone looking for three missing, PRETI NEW DANGER

Dangerous for the dismantling of the old gunpowder

About the causes of the explosion is currently no information or how to unofficial information, the TRZ-old divorced in gunpowder, which represents a great danger.

- Five times more dangerous than powder prozvoditi disassemble it, especially when it comes to the old gunpowder, and this is what is done in the TRZ in the moment when the first explosion occurred - says our source.

Special commission to investigate the causes of the accident

More:

http://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/kako-je-doslo-do-tragedije-rekonstrukcija-eksplozije-koja-je-zatresla-kragujevac/q742zf8

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Serbia's weapons industry is being pushed to the fringe.

IZAKOVIC