11 Jul 2011

Soldiers killed in Cyprus power station blast

At least 12 soldiers have been killed in an explosion at a naval base in southern Cyprus, according to reports.

Soldiers killed in Cyprus power station blast

The massive explosion knocked out the country’s largest power station, a spokesman for the state-run electricity authority said.

It is being suggested that the blast was caused when munitions on a cargo ship caught fire, although officials do not yet know what caused the fire.

“We can’t assess the extent of the damage, but it’s a biblical disaster,” said spokesman Costas Gavrielides.

He added that the country’s other two power stations were “trying to meet the demand” and that a third of the island was without power.

In addition to the soldiers killed in the blast, 30 others were injured, according to a local radio station.