Fire on premises of space rocket center in Samara, Russia (VIDEO)

18 Oct, 2016 11:13 / Updated 7 years ago

A huge fire has broken out at a warehouse of the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center in the southern Russian city of Samara, local media report. Up to 1,000 sq meters may have been affected.

A two-storey warehouse... on the center's premises is on fire,” Tatiana Kovaleva, of the press service of the Samara emergency services, told RT.

At least 60 people and 17 vehicles are currently battling the blaze, Kovaleva said.

She added that there are no reports of casualties or evacuations.

A 400-sq-meter area has been affected by the blaze, according to Kovaleva.

A source in the Samara emergency services, however, told RIA Novosti the fire has engulfed 1,000 sq meters.

The cause of the fire may have been a short circuit, Interfax reported, citing sources close to the incident.

The Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center is the developer of Soyuz rockets.

The Progress center’s press service said the fire has been contained.

The warehouse affected did not contain items “connected to the space industry” and was used for storing syringes, said spokesperson Yulia Izumova.