Series of explosion rocked military base in Çatalköy east of Girne, north Cyprus (Photos and video)

Series of explosions rocked an arsenal within a military base at about 2:00am on Thursday in Çatalköy, east of Kyrenia (Girne).

The explosions occurred in an ammunition depot in a military zone opposite the Acapulco Hotel early Thursday morning.

The hotel customers and residents from nearby area were evacuated while the hotel customers were sent to the beach for precaution because of the fire.

12 people were injured in the incident. The injured were taken to the hospital and discharged after treatment.

Electricity was interrupted as a precaution and some major roads were closed to traffic.

No fatalities was recorded in the incident but some minor injuries due to broken shattered glass.

The explosion stopped at 5:00am in the morning and the fire was put under control at around 7 am.

Ariel view of the area

Fire services and civil defence responded quickly to the fire and all the appropriate measures taken. Many people in the Arapkoy region were evacuated as a precaution

TRNC Foreign Minister Kudret Ozersay said on his Facebook page, that the area had been sealed off as explosions continued at the military zone, a historic harbour town on the northern coast and a region frequented by tourists.

The cause of the initial blast was not immediately clear.

Meanwhile, there has been a series of reaction to the incident on social media.