Kazakh Defense Minister announced plans to resign after explosions at ammunition depot

The Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan Nurlan Yermekbayev announced that he intends to resign after the explosions at military depots in the Zhambyl region in the south of the republic. About it informs Tengrinews with reference to the press service of the department.

The minister himself saidthat “in the first minute” after the announcement of the explosions, he decided to resign, adding that the final decision on this issue would be made by the country’s authorities. “My main goal is to eliminate the consequences of the emergency,” he said.

The day before, on August 26, a fire broke out in the Zhambyl region in the military unit No. 28349, in which the engineer brigade is located. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the ammunition warehouse caught fire. In total, as specified in the Ministry of Defense, six explosions thundered. On the fact of emergency aroused a criminal case on violation of the rules for handling weapons, as well as with substances and objects that pose a danger to others.

As a result of explosions perished at least five military personnel, the department said. More than 80 people were injured, and a few more are still not contacted. Authorities evacuated residents from the nearby villages of Kainar, Ushbulak and Zhibek Zholy. Government of Kazakhstan do not exclude version of deliberate arson.