OREANDA-NEWS. The number of victims of explosions at an ammunition depot in Kazakhstan has increased to five, as the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the republic said.

"The chief of the fire brigade, petty officer of the contract service, Nadirbekov Erkin Yerikbaevich, born in 1992, directly supervised the work to extinguish the fire at the engineering ammunition depot. After the explosion, he died at the scene," the message says.

Earlier it was reported about four deaths in the explosion: a sergeant, a corporal, a civilian paramilitary guard and a military prosecutor with the rank of colonel.

The warehouse of a military unit in the Zhambyl region, where engineering ammunition is stored, caught fire the night before. At least ten explosions thundered. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, about 90 people were injured, including 49 rescuers. In the morning, 28 victims remained in hospitals, six of them were in serious condition.

Residents of the surrounding villages were evacuated. Investigators opened a criminal case on violation of the rules for handling weapons, as well as substances and objects that pose a danger to others.

The Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan said he was ready to resign.

The fire is still being extinguished.