A deadly blast at a military facility in Yemen has claimed the lives of 12 soldiers and left multiple others wounded, according to local sources who spoke with Xinhua news agency.
The devastating explosion occurred Thursday morning at a Giants Brigades military installation located in Aden’s Al-Mimdarah district. The Giants Brigades are forces aligned with Yemen’s pro-government coalition.
Local residents reported hearing the powerful detonations echo throughout large portions of the southern port city.
An unnamed security official indicated that preliminary investigations suggest the tragedy began as an accidental incident within the facility’s weapons storage facility. The official believes a malfunction in the electrical system may have ignited a blaze that eventually reached the stored ammunition supplies.
According to the official’s account, the fire led to a series of detonations throughout the military compound.
People living in the area reported observing thick smoke and fire billowing from the location before a series of blasts rocked surrounding communities.
While the Giants Brigades facility suffered damage from the incident, officials have not yet disclosed details about how extensive the destruction was.
Sources confirmed that at least 12 military personnel lost their lives in the explosion. Additional service members sustained injuries, though their current medical status has not been made public.
The tragedy took place at a military base run by pro-government troops in Aden, which serves as an important strategic location in southern Yemen.
The security official emphasized that the conclusion about an electrical failure causing the catastrophe is still under review.
Area residents described hearing multiple secondary explosions following the original blast, with smoke continuing to rise from the military compound.
As of Thursday, government authorities had not released any official statements about the incident, and additional information about injuries or property damage was not immediately accessible.
Officials conducting the investigation have not yet made public any definitive findings about what caused the explosion.
The tragedy focused on a munitions storage facility within the base, where investigators believe the fire started before spreading throughout the weapons depot and causing the series of explosions, based on early information from the security official.
The initial blast and following detonations were felt throughout Aden, capturing the attention of people living in various parts of the city.
