It is believed the explosion occurred because munitions were improperly stored. Hot weather may also have been a factor.
An estimated 30 to 40 percent of the contents of the warehouse were destroyed. Shrapnel was found in nearby homes. There have been no reports of casualties.
Tariq Nuri, director of Erbil Asayesh, told Rudaw the explosion was not terrorism related.
“It happened because of not keeping the ammunition safely,” he said.
Changes in temperature caused some metal components to expand and contract, triggering the blast, Nuri said.
“It is necessary to keep these metals according to scientific standards in order to avoid such accidents,” he added.
Three Peshmerga were lightly injured after an explosion and fire at a weapons depot of the Zeravani Peshmerga in early August. A couple weeks later, there was another explosion at a warehouse of the same force near the airport.
Authorities were quick to reassure the public that neither incident was at attack or terror-related.
Temperatures in Erbil climb well into the 40’s centigrade during the summer.
Last updated: 5.47 P.M.
