Seventeen injured in explosion at military base in northwestern Turkey
ÇANAKKALE – Anadolu Agency
None of the soldiers were in a serious or life-threatening condition, doctors said. DHA Photo
Seventeen soldiers have been wounded after a tank bullet exploded during a drilling session in a military base in the northeastern province of Çanakkale’s Gelibolu district on April 17.The injured military personnel were rushed to hospital following the incident. Doctors said the explosion was only a scare and none of the soldiers were in a serious or life-threatening condition.
The explosion occurred after a tank shot was improperly fired during a drilling session of the 18th mechanized infantry brigade.
“One of the two tank shots traveled only 300 meters, possibly due to a technical failure,” Çanakkale Governor Ahmet Çınar said, adding that most of the injuries were due to the impact of small pieces of shrapnel.
“I have spoken with our army corps commander. He says all the injured are fit enough to return to work tomorrow morning,” Çınar added.
Up to 25 soldiers died after an explosion in an ammunition depot in a military base in Afyon on Sept. 5, 2012.
