Terrified Brits fled for their lives as a series of explosions rocked an army ammunition depot in Cyprus, reportedly injuring 12 people.
Tourists filmed huge fireballs rising from the Turkish military base yesterday, with early reports suggesting the blasts were caused by
Witnesses described hearing deafening bangs and seeing falling shrapnel all around them as they fled the village of Catalkoy in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus.
The blasts shattered windows at the nearby Acapulco Hotel, where the majority of the injured were guests.
British guest and former London firefighter Stephen Cross, 69, toldThe Sun: “We heard a bang. We’ve never heard a bang like it.
“I thought it was thunder and looked out the window – next thing you know, there was another bang and the windows shook and knocked me back a bit.
“When we were outside the shrapnel was going everywhere – one of the pieces on the ground was about three foot long. It would have taken your head off if it had hit you .
Mr Cross told the newspaper that he feared the blasts could have been an attack.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Ozersay wrote onFacebookthat the area had been sealed off as explosions continued at the military zone.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said the fire had been brought under control and that the cause of the initial blast, around 1. (am local time) 30 pm GMT), was not immediately clear.
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It said an investigative team had begun its work.
CNN Turk broadcast video showed large blasts and plumes of smoke rising into the night sky over the area.
“Unfortunately a fire broke out in an ammunition depot in the military zone east of Kyrenia and there was a series of explosions, “Ozersay said, adding that the area had been secured, with police warning people to keep away.
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