MOSCOW, August 6. /TASS/. The Russian Emergencies Ministry has confirmed that more than 16,500 people had left their homes after a series of explosions at an ammunition depot in the Krasnoyarsk Region’s Achinsky District.

"To prevent threats to life and health of the population living in close proximity, the evacuation of 9,533 people from nine inhabited communities and the Sokol recreation camp has been organized. In addition, about 7,000 people have left the hazardous area on their own," the ministry’s press service informed TASS.

The emergencies services earlier reported that more than 16,000 people had fled the area.

According to the Emergencies Ministry, 30 temporary accommodation centers have been set up in three cities and two municipal areas. Currently there are 3,857 people there.

"Medical and psychological assistance for the locals has been provided," the ministry added.

Evaluating the damages

Explosions that rocked a military storage facility near the city of Achinsk in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Region caused no extensive damage, the regional governor, Alexander Uss, told reporters on Tuesday.

"Luckily, no extensive damage was caused," he said. "The situation in the village [the Kamenka settlement located closest to the ammo depot — TASS] is fine. According to preliminary data, three wooden buildings were seriously damaged, windows and doors in houses were shattered… However, it would be wrong to say that Kamenka has been wiped off from the face of the earth," Uss noted.

According to the governor, smoke continues to rise from the ammo depot but a large fire isn’t likely again. "A helicopter trip over the depot did not give us the impression of a huge threat," Uss added.

He pointed out that military aircraft would soon join the firefighting effort. In addition, a unit of about 70 demining personnel will be deployed to Achinsk.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov also stated that no serious damages were inflicted to the village. "I have visited the depot myself, as well as the nearby residential area, I also went to the technical zone and addressed all issues. There are some windows that need repairs but everything else is intact, all cars are safe," Bulgakov said.

On Monday afternoon, a storage facility containing powder charges for artillery ammunition ignited at a military unit of the Central Military District in the Krasnoyarsk Region’s Achinsky District. Evacuation of locals from settlements within a 20-kilometer zone from the accident’s epicenter started. A state of emergency has been declared in the Achinsky District.

The number of people wounded in the explosions at the ammunition depot in the Krasnoyark Region’s Achinsky District has climbed to 13. A woman who sustained light wounds sought medical attention, a source in the Achinsk Central District Hospital informed TASS.

"A woman sought medical attention an hour ago. [She] refused to be hospitalized," the source said.

A source in the emergency services earlier reported one fatality, but the Defense Ministry denied that.