Northern Cyprus army depot blast injures 12 people

Gunpowder in the air and hotel doors shattered as plume seen as far as Turkish coast

epa07836848 A fire is seen over a Turkish army depot east of the city of Kyrenia, northern Cyprus, 12 September 2019. The overnight blast shattered windows of a nearby hotel, prompting the evacuation of tourists. Turkish army authorities have launched an investigaton into the cause of the incident. EPA/STR

A picture taken on September 12, 2019 shows shattered glass doors at the Acapulco hotel in Kyrenia (Girne) in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) north of the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia, after the building was damaged when a military depot exploded nearby. Multiple explosions at a Turkish military base in northern Cyprus damaged a hotel in a neighbouring holiday resort early Thursday, prompting the evacuation of terrified tourists, officials said. Fire broke out in the arms depot at the base in Catalkoy, west of the town of Kyrenia, without causing any casualties, police said. / AFP / Birol BEBEK

Workers at Acapulco hotel in Kyrenia (Girne) in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) north of the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia, assess the damage after the building was damaged when a military depot exploded nearby, on September 12, 2019. Multiple explosions at a Turkish military base in northern Cyprus damaged a hotel in a neighbouring holiday resort early Thursday, prompting the evacuation of terrified tourists, officials said. / AFP / Birol BEBEK

Guests of the Acapulco hotel in Kyrenia (Girne) in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) north of the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia, embrace after the building was damaged when a military depot exploded nearby, on September 12, 2019. Multiple explosions at a Turkish military base in northern Cyprus damaged a hotel in a neighbouring holiday resort early Thursday, prompting the evacuation of terrified tourists, officials said. / AFP / Birol BEBEK

A picture taken on September 12, 2019 shows shrapnel found on the grounds of the Acapulco hotel in Kyrenia (Girne) in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) north of the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia, after the building was damaged when a military depot exploded nearby. Multiple explosions at a Turkish military base in northern Cyprus damaged a hotel in a neighbouring holiday resort early Thursday, prompting the evacuation of terrified tourists, officials said. / AFP / Iakovos Hatzistavrou

Turkish military vehicles are parked on the grounds of the Acapulco hotel in Kyrenia (Girne) in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) north of the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia, after the building was damaged when a military depot exploded nearby, on September 12, 2019. Multiple explosions at a Turkish military base in northern Cyprus damaged a hotel in a neighbouring holiday resort early Thursday, prompting the evacuation of terrified tourists, officials said. / AFP / Birol BEBEK

epa07836855 Tourists are evacuated from the Acapulco hotel east of the city of Kyrenia, northern Cyprus, 12 September 2019. An ammunition depot in northern Cyprus exploded on Thursday after a fire broke out in a military zone. Shattered glass injured some people during the incident, and the hotel was evacuated. EPA/KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Guests of the Acapulco hotel in Kyrenia (Girne) in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) north of the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia, stand outside with their belongings after the building was damaged when a military depot exploded nearby, on September 12, 2019. Multiple explosions at a Turkish military base in northern Cyprus damaged a hotel in a neighbouring holiday resort early Thursday, prompting the evacuation of terrified tourists, officials said. / AFP / Birol BEBEK

An explosion at a Turkish army depot in Northern Cyprus injured 12 people after a fire broke out in a military zone in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Explosions at the military zone continued for four hours and spread to an adjacent forest, though the fire has since come under control.

Shattered glass at nearby hotels caused injuries but no fatalities were recorded. Shrapnel and debris from the army depot is also reported to have spread from the depot.

The cause of the blast is unknown as yet as authorities say an investigation is underway.

Video footage posted on social media showed smoke rising into the sky east of Kyrenia, a coastal town popular with tourists.

Following the first blast, smoke could be seen as far as the Turkish coastal hotspots of Antalya and Alanya.

Local media report that tourists at the Acapulco Hotel gathered onto the beach upon hearing the blasts. Medics were called onto the scene to treat some guests who felt unwell from the smell of burning gunpowder.

Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Ozersay said the area is now secured, with police warning people to keep away.

The foreign minister said on Facebook that electricity had been cut in the vicinity of the blast while nearby homes were evacuated.

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci told reporters that tourists who had flights on Thursday morning would be safely escorted, after arriving at the scene with Prime Minister Ersin Tatar.