It is not clear how many civilians are among the wounded, nor has the person killed been identified.
Videos posted on social media appear to show a massive plume of smoke billowing from the al-Saqr military base.
Footage of massive explosion in Baghdad, #Iraq in what was reported as blast at PMF militia weapons depot: pic.twitter.com/sUInTlP1zt
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 12, 2019
The cause of the fire in the south of the Iraqi capital remains unknown, but police sources told Reuters it may have been sparked by negligent storage of weaponry and extremely high summer temperatures, which can easily reach 50 degrees centigrade.
The interior ministry has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Qasim al-Attabi, a spokesman for the district’s health directorate, said children were among the wounded. Health Ministry spokesman Saif Badr said most of those who suffered light injuries have now been discharged from hospital.
Security sources told Reuters the facility is used to store short-range and Katyusha missiles.
