An explosion at the weapons and ammunition depot of a military facility in Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya region has injured several people and caused material damage.
It was not immediately clear what caused the blast at the facility, some 70 kilometers west of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.
According to the Uzdaily news outlet, the explosion took place in the Malik village.
The Uzbek Health Ministry said sixteen people were injured and twelve of them were taken to a hospital. After receiving medical attention, four people were hospitalized and twelve others were transferred to outpatient treatment.
The Uzbek Ministry of Defense says those hospitalized had suffered “non-life-threatening injuries.”
Surrounding houses and shops were reportedly damaged. Podrobno.uz, citing local authorities, says 3,700 residential buildings and other facilities were damaged.
The Defense Ministry said an investigation has been launched into the incident. A special commission has been set up to assess the damage caused by the explosion.
