No people affected by radiation in Arys ammo depot blasts - Kazakh Health Ministry
NUR-SULTAN. June 27 (Interfax) - No people have been subjected to the radiation impact in the town of Arys, where ammunitions blasts occurred on Monday, Kazakh Health Minister Elzhan Birtanov said on Thursday.
"No people were affected by radiation. In fact, 56 out of 64 injuries are combined wounds, six patients with carbon dioxide poisoning, and two patients with burns," Birtanov said at a press conference in Nur-Sultan on Thursday.
"As for the radiation background, our sanitary doctors are carrying out specific medical examinations, but, first and foremost, this is certainly the taking of the samples of water and food products at crowded venues. Our sanitary doctors so far have not exposed any high radiation cases," the minister added.
A fire broke out and munitions detonated on the premises of a military unit stationed in Arys on the morning of June 24. The regional authorities declared a state of emergency and evacuated the town, which has a population nearing 45,000. According to the latest updates, more than 160 people were hurt and three died. Over 60 people are being treated at hospitals.