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In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, a family watches explosions at a military ammunition depot near the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region, in Achinsk, Russia. Russian officials say powerful explosions at a military depot in Siberia left 12 people injured and one missing and forced over 16,500 people to leave their homes. (AP Photo/Dmitry Dub)

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In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, people watch and photograph explosions at a military ammunition depot near the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region, in Achinsk, Russia. Russian officials say powerful explosions at a military depot in Siberia left 12 people injured and one missing and forced over 16,500 people to leave their homes. (AP Photo/Dmitry Dub)

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Russian military police patrol the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. The Emergencies Ministry said that 9,533 people have been evacuated from the area 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from the depot and about 7,000 fled on their own as massive explosions sent plumes of black smoke high into the skies. 12 people were injured and left one missing, and forced over 16,500 people to leave their homes, officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Dmitry Dub)

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Russian military police walk to patrol the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. The Emergencies Ministry said that 9,533 people have been evacuated from the area 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from the depot and about 7,000 fled on their own as massive explosions sent plumes of black smoke high into the skies. 12 people were injured and left one missing, and forced over 16,500 people to leave their homes, officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Dmitry Dub)

1 killed, 13 injured by blasts at Russian military depot

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 6:01 AM ET Aug. 07, 2019

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian authorities say powerful explosions that started at a military depot in Siberia two days ago left one person dead and 13 people injured.

A fire erupted Monday at an ammunition depot near the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region, triggering massive blasts that continued for about 16 hours and forced over 16,500 people to flee their homes.

The evacuees began returning to their homes Wednesday after military experts checked the residential areas for explosives.

Officials have also lifted a ban on air traffic and reopened railways and roads around the depot.

An official probe has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, the latest in a series of blazes at Russian military arsenals over the past few years.