ULYANOVSK, November 14 (RIA Novosti) - Urgent work is needed to repair damaged social infrastructure near a military depot in central Russia that blew up on Friday night, the Ulyanovsk governor has said.
Two servicemen are missing and believed dead, and 44 others injured following a series of explosions at a naval weapons depot in the Volga city.
The regional administration said in a statement that Governor Sergei Morozov "has given an order for all necessary financing to be provided from the city budget to repair damage to social infrastructure and housing. For priority tasks, 20 million rubles $690,000 has already been allocated."
Morozov said that shockwaves from the explosions smashed windows in nine schools and 20 kindergartens. Due to damage to housing, 105 people have been placed in hotels, including 17 children. They are being provided with food and clothing.
The Russian Defense Ministry earlier said the explosions are believed to have occurred while ammunition was being destroyed at the depot. Twenty firefighting crews were called in to fight the ensuing blaze, which was put out during the night.
Morozov said that six unexploded artillery shells have been found in the vicinity of the depot, and that dangerous weaponry is likely to be moved to another location.
