Thousands of people have been evacuated from a Siberian town after an ammunition storage site on a military base caught fire, setting off a series of explosions and injuring at least eight people.

Tass news agency reported one soldier was also killed and eight people were wounded in Monday's incident.

Videos posted on social media showed thick smoke rising from the military base and fireworks-like eruptions.

Regional authorities declared a state of emergency for the area surrounding the city of Achinsk in eastern Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region.

The Guardian newspaper reported an estimated 40,000 tank and artillery shells are kept on the base. The Russian Defense Ministry said the facility also housed gunpowder charges for artillery shells.

Rusal, Russia's largest aluminum producer, stopped all production at its Achinsk alumina plant and evacuated all but essential staff to ensure their safety.

Authorities also suspended all flights within 30 kilometers of the munitions site.

Source : VOA