Defective ammo blast in SE Turkey injures 25 soldiers

By Yilmaz Kazandioglu and Aykut Karadag

HAKKARI, Turkey

At least 25 soldiers were injured by an accidental explosion of defective ammunition in southeastern Hakkari province, according to an official statement.

"Twenty-five of our military personnel were injured today at the Ortaklar Sungu Tepe military base in the Semdinli district when defective ammunition detonated during artillery shooting," said the National Defence Ministry.

The injured are being treated at a hospital while rescue workers are trying to reach seven missing soldiers, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, a Turkish court imposed a broadcast ban on the incident to prevent misinformation.