A major fire has broken out at a munitions storage depot in the Central Russian republic of Udmurtia, triggering explosions and injuring at least five.

Military personnel at the site and local residents totalling around 30,000 people have been evacuated to safety.

Officials say the explosions of artillery shells are likely to last at least a whole day. However, the intensity of the blasts is gradually decreasing.

The incident comes just a week after another ammunition depot fire in the neighboring republic of Bashkiria, which injured 12 people and destroyed more than 40 houses.
sections: Accidents