Residents Evacuated As Ammunition Train Explodes In Siberia

Some residents of Russia's West Siberian region have been evacuated after a Russian military train carrying ammunition caught fire, triggering explosions that scattered shells up to 200 meters.

No casualties have been reported from the incident on July 25 near the city of Novosibirsk.

The Russian Defense Ministry said one train carriage was completely destroyed and five were damaged.

It said four mine-sweeping groups were at the scene to render the ordnance safe, but operations were reported delayed as ammunition continued to explode.

The movement of trains on the main Trans-Siberian Railway was halted because of the incident.

No official announcement has been made on the cause of the fire.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax, and AFP