Explosions in Paraćin

Explosions in Paraćin

Serbian Defense Minister Zoran Stanković confirmed for B92 that a series of explosions occurred in an isolated military warehouse in Paraćin, adding that no soldiers were injured.

Ten citizens of Paraćin were injured from flying glass that resulted from the explosion on Karađorđevo Hill.

Windows cracked and fell out of walls in downtown Paraćin as a result of the explosions, and the detonations were felt twenty kilometers away in Jagodina as well, where the vibrations from the explosions triggered car alarms around the town.

Source told Beta that the police and firefighters are making sure that no one approaches the warehouse because the situation is still very unstable. Along with the Belgrade-Niš highway, all others roads from Jagodina and Zaječar going through Paraćin have been closed.

According to Radio Television Serbia, the first explosion occurred around 4 am, followed by a second one at about 6 am. Townspeople claim that the second explosion was the stronger of the two. The air over Paraćin is heavy in smoke and a mushroom cloud from the explosion is visible. Officials say that more explosions could possibly occur over the course of the day. Chief of the Defense Sector of the Pomoravska region, Jovan Stepanović, said that the explosion was cause by reactions with the ammunition being stored in the warehouse, according to RTS.

He said that, as far as he knows, there are no threats of chemical pollutants.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Under Colonel Zoran Puhač said that the warehouse was built following all necessary safety procedures and that this helped keep citizens safe from the explosion.

“There is no danger at this time of the fires spreading. That is what is most important.” Puhač said, adding that the emergency medical personnel will be at the scene and on call just in case.

Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Dragan Jočić said that a chain of eight explosions occurred inside the warehouse.

“We are talking about classic explosives, 3,500 tons of exploded in a chain of explosions within the Serbian Military facility. It is early to say, but I believe there was not sabotage involved, and responsibility will always be seen in the end.” Jočić said.

“The fact that the warehouse is close to a city should be blame on earlier concepts of defense, in the earlier concepts the warehouses and stations of the military and military buildings were close to cities. I must say that what is important is that no one was injured.” Jočić said.

According to unofficial information, the explosion results from anti-aircraft weapons catching on fire, which are being kept uncovered. The fire then spread to land mines, unofficially.

The police have blocked off Paraćin for security reasons. There are many units of police, soldiers and firefighter on the town’s streets currently.

Niš District Court Investigate Judge Radomir Mladenović will lead the investigation into the explosions, according to Beta.

“I will not know anything until I arrive there. It is a question whether I will be able to get close to the facility because of the fear of additional explosions.” Mladenović said.