Moscow, Aug 5 (AFP) Up to eight people were injured and thousands were evacuated Monday because of a fire at a Siberian ammunition depot that set off explosions, authorities said.

The fire of unknown origin at the depot near the town of Achinsk in the Krasnoyarsk region was the latest accident to hit Russia's military.

Witnesses posted footage on the internet showing a huge column of black smoke rising over a forest.

Krasnoyarsk governor Alexander Uss said that between five and eight people may have been hurt.

"There is no threat to their lives," he added in televised remarks.

Regional authorities said the ammunition depot lies just outside the village of Kamenka.

The depot has been cordoned off and servicemen have taken refuge in a bomb-proof shelter.

Authorities plan to evacuate around 11,000 people, Russia 24 news channel reported.

Some 105,000 people live in the town of Achinsk. (AFP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)