Serbian Army Depot Blast Kills One, Injures 25

Serbia's defence ministry announced that one army staff member was killed and another 25 army and police personnel were injured as they battled to extinguish a blaze following an explosion on Tuesday at the military repair depot in the central Serbian town of Kragujevac.

The ministry said it is still searching for three missing people.

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic said on Tuesday evening that the fire has now been extinguished, but that the possibility of more explosions remains.

"The Ministry of Defence and the Army of Serbia puts the safety of its members first place and insists on a maximum security when it comes to the life and work of its members, and that all safety measures at work be at the maximum level," said Djordjevic, who was in Kragujevac.

He added that the facility where the accident occurred was built to the highest security standards.

The first blast at the depot in Kragujevac happened at 1:20pm local time and was soon followed by another explosion.

According to news reports, the force of the explosions was so strong it shook house windows in the city and was widely heard by residents Kragujevac and surrounding areas.

Djordjevic said the government will set up a special commission to investigate the cause of the explosions and the subsequent blaze.

The depot is used to dismantle old ammunition, work that includes removing gunpowder, explosives and other substances from parts.

Djordjevic said that the warehouse where the explosion took place was used to store rifles, mines and other strong and explosive ordnance.