Sept 28 (Reuters) – A fire caused by a powerful explosion at a warehouse near Tashkent airport had been contained and the situation was under control, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (FVV) said on Thursday.
The cause of the explosion was unclear, with one report of “strong lightning” and no reports of injuries or deaths. The ministry said a “special laboratory” had been set up at the site to investigate the explosion.
“Thanks to the quick actions of FVV employees, the fire area is shrinking,” the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. “The situation is completely under control.”
Videos and photos on social media showed flames rising into the night sky and a huge cloud of smoke.
Flights at Tashkent International Airport appeared to take off and land normally, data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed.
An advisory to airmen issued at 2215 GMT on Wednesday said that one runway at the airport would be closed for takeoffs and landings between 0200 GMT and 0700 GMT on Thursday, but that a segment would be available for taxiing. He did not provide a reason.
According to a social media post by Uzbek media outlet Daryo, 16 fire and rescue teams were sent to fight the fire at one of the warehouses located in the city’s Sergeli district, near the airport.
Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Written by Michael Perry; Edited by Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed and Lincoln Feast.
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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