Sept 28 (Reuters) – Uzbekistan’s Emergency Situations Ministry (FVV) said on Thursday that a fire caused by a powerful explosion at a warehouse near Tashkent’s airport has been contained and the situation is under control.
The cause of the explosion was unclear, with a report of “strong lightning” and no reports of injuries or deaths. The ministry said a “special laboratory” had been set up at the scene to investigate the explosion.
“As a result of the quick actions of the FVV staff, the area of ​​the fire is being reduced,” the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. “The situation is completely under control”.
Video and photos on social media showed flames and a huge cloud of smoke in the night sky.
Flights appeared to be taking off and landing at Tashkent International Airport as usual, data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed.
A notice to aircrew issued at 2215 GMT on Wednesday said one runway at the airport would be closed to take-offs and landings between 0200 GMT and 0700 GMT on Thursday, but a section would be available for taxiing. No reason was given.
According to a social media post by Uzbek media outlet Dario, 16 fire and rescue teams were dispatched to put out the fire at a warehouse located in the city’s Serkely district near the airport.
Akansha Khushi reports in Bangalore; Written by Michael Perry; Editing by Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed and Lincoln Feist.
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