Czech Army to guard munitions site

The Czech Army will be called in next week to begin guarding the site of a munitions depot in Moravia which suffered a deadly explosion that left two employees missing and presumed dead. The ministers of the Interior and Defence visited the surrounding area on Thursday. It has emerged gradually that the site, leased by four companies, represented a greater threat than previously registered; Defence Minister Martin Stropnický maintained that the officials has reacted as quickly as possible as the bigger picture emerged. The authorities are have compiled information about the site which contains numerous buildings with stored munitions untouched by the blast; but, the minister suggested that not all regulations had been followed at the depot, and dozens of other depots around the country will be checked. The army is expected to receive a mandate on Monday to guard the site. The clean-up and removal of debris as well as munitions from surviving buildings could take months.

Author: Jan Velinger