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| Blaze 'sets off Russian rockets' | Blaze 'sets off Russian rockets' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A fire at an air base arms depot in north-western Russia has reportedly set off several missiles, but caused no deaths or injuries. | A fire at an air base arms depot in north-western Russia has reportedly set off several missiles, but caused no deaths or injuries. |
| Amateur video shows what appear to be at least two rockets zigzagging through a clear afternoon sky around the Lodeynoe Pole base near St Petersburg. | Amateur video shows what appear to be at least two rockets zigzagging through a clear afternoon sky around the Lodeynoe Pole base near St Petersburg. |
| Unofficial sources say that at least 400 air-to-air rockets were damaged at a cost of about $82m (£41m). | Unofficial sources say that at least 400 air-to-air rockets were damaged at a cost of about $82m (£41m). |
| The fire apparently began during repair work when workers were on a break. | The fire apparently began during repair work when workers were on a break. |
| Col-Gen Aleksandr Zelin, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, confirmed a number of air-to-air-missiles had exploded in the fire. | Col-Gen Aleksandr Zelin, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, confirmed a number of air-to-air-missiles had exploded in the fire. |
| Earlier, an air force spokesman, Col Alexander Drobyshevsky, denied that any rockets had taken to the air as a result of the incident. | Earlier, an air force spokesman, Col Alexander Drobyshevsky, denied that any rockets had taken to the air as a result of the incident. |
| 'Like fireworks but worse' | 'Like fireworks but worse' |
| An unnamed police source told Russia's Ria Novosti news agency that more than 400 of the missiles had been destroyed, at a total cost of at least $82m. | An unnamed police source told Russia's Ria Novosti news agency that more than 400 of the missiles had been destroyed, at a total cost of at least $82m. |
| For its part, the Interfax news agency quoted an anonymous Russian security source as saying 450 missiles were destroyed at a cost of $100m. | For its part, the Interfax news agency quoted an anonymous Russian security source as saying 450 missiles were destroyed at a cost of $100m. |
| Local resident Sergei Donko told Russian television he had seen three missiles come down. | Local resident Sergei Donko told Russian television he had seen three missiles come down. |
| One exploded "like fireworks on 9 May [Victory Day in Russia] but... even worse", he added. | One exploded "like fireworks on 9 May [Victory Day in Russia] but... even worse", he added. |
| Another local man, Igor Kovalyov, said: | Another local man, Igor Kovalyov, said: |
| "They were really passing over our heads and we were guessing whether it would come to our house or not. Finally it landed here, causing a fire as a result." | "They were really passing over our heads and we were guessing whether it would come to our house or not. Finally it landed here, causing a fire as a result." |
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