INTENSITY OF EXPLOSIONS AT AMMO DEPOTS IN UKRAINE INCREASES

KIEV, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - In the afternoon on Saturday, the intensity of explosions at ammunition depots near the Ukrainian town of Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region sharply increased. In this connection, a decision was taken to postpone the earlier planned return of evacuated locals to their houses.

This was said Saturday by Andrei Klyuyev, Ukraine's Vice Premier and the chairman of the state commission for issues of environmental and man-caused disasters and emergencies.

In his words, the reason for the increase of the number of explosions was a sharp rise of the temperature in the area of the emergency. 10 to 12 shells explode an hour now, while in the morning, the figure was two an hour.

In this connection, Klyuyev said, the commission took the decision to cancel the return to villages of earlier evacuated residents.

"This decision was taken in connection with an increased threat to people's lives," explained the vice premier.

The fire at ammo depots started on Thursday at midday. At least five people were killed in the explosions.

Experts tend to think the human factor was the reason for the disaster.