Smoke rises from Taji military camp north of Baghdad after a fire broke out in an ammunition warehouse belonging to the Iraqi army’s 9th Armored Division.
Ammunition explodes at Taji camp in fire officials blame on heat
BAGHDAD — Ammunition detonated inside Taji military camp north of Baghdad on Sunday after a fire broke out in a warehouse belonging to the Iraqi army’s 9th Armored Division, which officials attributed to high temperatures.
Security Media Cell chief Lt. Gen. Saad Maan said some ammunition had exploded because of the heat while civil defense teams worked to put out the blaze. “A fire broke out inside one of the warehouses at Taji camp as a result of high temperatures, and the facility contains ammunition belonging to the 9th Armored Division,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Yahya Rasool said in a statement to 964media.
“Immediately after the incident, the specialized teams at the Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with civil defense teams, began procedures to control and contain the fire to prevent it from spreading to neighboring sites,” Rasool said.
Neither official said whether anyone was killed or injured, how much ammunition was involved, or whether the fire had been brought under control.
Temperatures in Baghdad were forecast to reach 49°C on Sunday, with parts of southern Iraq at 50°C.