Two explosions have occurred in the Donetsk chemical plant, Ivan Prikhodko, deputy chairman of the Voroshilovsky district council, said.

Two explosions have occurred in the Donetsk chemical plant, Ivan Prikhodko, deputy chairman of the Voroshilovsky district council, said.

The first explosion was caused by a shell that had hit the plant and the second was caused by the detonation of the remaining explosives, he said.

"A shell hit Industrial Explosives Unit №47 of the plant at 10:35 a.m. The remaining explosives detonated, causing another explosion […] Luckily, the shell didn't hit the main explosives storage facility, where some 2,500 tonnes [of explosives] is located," Prikhodko told 112. Ukraine television on Saturday.

According to Prikhodko, the explosion did not hurt any people, but "seriously damaged" the plant. He reiterated that there was n o one on the territory of the plant and the residential sector is located far from the plant.

Prikhodko also said he had visited the nearby residential sector and the only destruction he saw was broken windows.

Firefighters are now working at the scene, he said.

"Unfortunately, that happened when the humanitarian convoy [some 200 trucks] entered Donetsk," he said.

At the same time, Donetsk residents are saying on social networking sites that the explosion took place inside the plant warehouse and was not caused by shelling.

The Donetsk chemical plant is part of the state-run concern Ukroboronprom.

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