Death toll rises to 15 in Cyprus naval base explosion 11.07.11
11Cyprus's defence minister and army chief have resigned after a massive explosion at a munitions dump killed at least 15 people. The blast happened at a military base where confiscated Iranian munitions were being held. It shut down the island's largest power station, causing widespread power cuts, including to the four British military bases on the island. The Ministry of Defence says no British personnel were injured. It's believed the explosion at the Evangelos Florakis naval base near Zygi between Limassol and Larnaca may have been caused by a brush fire. The British military bases of RAF Akrotiri, Episkopi, Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaus have all been hit by power shortages. With criticism mounting over how the material that exploded had been handled and stored, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas and the country's top military official, National Guard Chief General Petros Tsalikides, resigned. A government spokesman said investigators had ruled out sabotage as a cause for the blast. He said experts will be called from abroad to help determine the exact cause of the explosion. President Dimitris Christofias had asked Tsalikides and Papacostas to remain in their posts until replacements were found. The government has declared a three-day mourning period with all flags at public buildings flying at half staff. State funerals will be held for those killed. The concussion wave from the blast damaged houses in nearby villages, and knocked out the island's main power station, leading to power cuts in several areas. Authorities appealed to the public to limit their electricity consumption, which has spiked amid a three-day heatwave that has led to temperatures of about 40C. Airport authorities said both Paphos and Larnaca airports were reducing power consumption to the minimum possible and had turned on their generators. The Agriculture Ministry also urged the public to reduce water consumption as much as possible because desalination plants had been taken offline due to power problems. The blast occurred just one day shy of the ninth anniversary of a fatal national guard helicopter crash that killed then National Guard commander Evangelos Florakis - for which the naval base is named - and four other officers.