Turkey: ‘Controlled explosion’ gets out of control at military base

The detonation of an old anti-tank mine at a military base in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa on Thursday caused panic among residents.

A powerful blast shattered the windows of nearby buildings while panicked children at a nearby school were evacuated.

Residents were relieved to learn that the blast was caused by the demolition of ammunition.

Turkish media reported that local authorities were informed before the detonation though it is not clear why the detonation took place near a residential area.