The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has ranked the explosion at a naval military base as one of the most serious disasters in recent times, resulting in the Mediterranean island observing a national state of mourning according to officials in London.
The Cyprus News Agency said that major explosions similar to that of sonic booms, rocked the fishing post village of Zygi which is home to the Republic of Cyprus naval military base.
According to the Republic of Cyprus High Commission in London, the death toll stands at 12 but could exceed 16 with over 50 people wounded, the fatalities include soldiers and fire-fighters.
A crisis management center has been set up at the entrance of the naval base and the operation is under the command of the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Petros Tsalikidis, who is on spot.
Tsalikides, while speaking to CNA, said earlier that "we're trying to manage the crisis".
He added that there has been a large scale disaster, after ammunition, stored in containers, caught on fire.
According to Tsalikides, the ammunition had been confiscated three years ago from the load of a ship. "Right now, we try to manage the crisis", he concluded.
Police Spokesman Michalis Katsounotos told CNA that 98 containers with explosives were stored in the base and that the explosions happened after two of the containers caught on fire.
Several people wounded have been transferred to Limassol Hospital by ambulance, while Larnaca General Hospital remains standby.
The explosion caused extensive damages to nearby Vassiliko power station, which resulted to extensive power shortages all over Cyprus.
Only the Helios air disaster which saw 121 Cypriots die on flight 708 crashed at Grammaticos in Greece is ranked as a worse disaster for the Republic of Cyprus.
