Explosions at an ammunition storage facility have caused a large wildfire in a forest in western Berlin. The site in Grunewald forest is used by German police to store and detonate unexploded ordnance, often from World War Two, which continues to be dug up during construction. Firefighters’ efforts have been hampered by sporadic explosions which could be seen and heard miles away. As at the time of filing this report, about one hundred and forty firefighters are at the scene, and have set up a safety perimeter of because of the ongoing blasts.
While the situation is extremely extraordinary Berlin fire brigade spokesman Thomas Kirstein said there was no danger for Berliners. However, an army tank has been sent in to evacuate munitions at the storage facility, which is run by Berlin police’s weapons disposal units. On Thursday afternoon, the blaze was still not under control and had burned fifteen thousand square meters of the forest, authorities added.
Chidozie Chima | September 20, 2024
