Explosive item found in Belgorod in location where explosion went off on 20 April, locals being evacuated

Sappers have found an “explosive item” on the same place where a massive explosion occurred after an “undue going off of an air-delivered munition”, local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reports.

“Sappers have found an explosive item. Defence Ministry bomb specialists have decided to deactivate it at a testing area,” he wrote.

Gladkov also stated that people dwelling in residential buildings within the 200 metres radius of the explosion would need to evacuate. The governor’s estimates are that over 3.000 people will be affected.

“To ensure safety we shall relocate people to temporary housing, where there is everything they need, such as drinking water and hot meals,” the governor promised.

Local social media groups report that a convoy of buses is moving towards the pickup points to evacuate the locals.

Telegram channels 112 and Baza report that sappers have found an air bomb at the location. It is stated that the bomb is lying 5-7 metres deep under the ground. It will be moved to a safe area after the evacuation is over. Izvestia says the bomb in question is a FAB-500.

The local Emergency Ministry has reported that the found item is not explosion hazardous, RIA Novosti reports. At the same time, the leader of the local Emergency Ministry department Sergey Potapov has declared emergency mode in the region.

Baza says the bomb that is being retreived from under the ground in Belgorod fell from the plane, first hitting a residential block, destroying balconies on three strories of the building.

A powerful explosion occurred in Russia’s Belgorod on 20 April. The Russian Defence Ministry said it was an “undue going off of an air-delivered munition” behind the explosion as a Su-34 aerospace forces jet was flying over the city. Governor reported that two people were injured in the incident.