Russian ammo dump fire prompts evacuation

[MaineDem]

MOSCOW --A fire at a navy ammunition depot caused artillery shells to explode, forcing the evacuation of thousands in a remote eastern region Saturday, officials said.

Some 4,000 residents from five towns in the region of Kamchatka had to leave their homes, news agencies reported, quoting the local Emergency Situations Ministry.

A six-mile safety zone had been declared around the depot, the navy said. No casualties were reported.

The incident occurred 93 miles north of the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka, chief naval spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said in a statement.

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