At least fourteen Russian servicemen have been killed after lightning struck a army munitions depot.

Several others are still missing.

The accident in the Ural mountains in the village of Losiniy caused a series of explosions lasting several hours.

They also started a forest fire covering an area of more than a-hundred-and-fifty hectares, forcing thousands of villagers to leave their homes.

Firemen from five Russian cities were sent to fight the fire buttheir efforts were hampered by continuing explosions.