High temperatures cause ammunition depot to explode in Iraq

An Iraqi Special Forces unit participate in Army Day celebrations at the Camp Taji military base north of Baghdad on January 6, 2025. Photo: AFP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Summer scorching temperatures in Iraq caused an ammunition depot at Camp Taji north of Baghdad to explode on Sunday. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense reported that a fire broke out inside a weapons and ammunition storage facility due to high summer temperatures. The Iraqi Security Media Cell (ISMC) said in a statement that the high temperatures caused stored projectiles and explosives to explode, the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Camp Taji is a large Iraqi military base located around 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Baghdad. The camp formerly housed US-led international coalition soldiers until it was fully handed over to Iraqi authorities in 2020. The specific storage contained heavy munitions belonging to the Iraqi army. The explosion occurred during a severe regional heatwave. Temperatures in Baghdad hit 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit), while the neighboring areas reached 50 degrees Celsius. Civil Defense units were dispatched quickly to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to other depots. No immediate injuries or deaths have been reported. Incidents of this type are common in Iraq because of the old infrastructure, poor safety regulations, and scorching summer temperatures.