A section of Russia's Transsiberian railway was temporarily halted due to a fire and explosions at a nearby munitions depot, Russian Railways said. A fire broke out at a munition depot located near Bolshaya Tura village, some 6200 km southeast of Moscow, caused by a wildfire raging nearby. More than 1,000 residents were evacuated but no casualties were reported, the local emergencies ministry said. "Due to a blaze at a Defence Ministry munitions depot in Zabaikalsky Krai the operations of trains between Chita and Karymskaya have been temporarily stopped for security reasons," the railroad said in a statement. Four passenger trains have been halted on the route and passengers were provided food and psychological support, the ministry said. No new blasts had been heard for a while and the fire was contained, a defence ministry spokesman told Rossyia-24 TV. The railway, linking Russia's western regions with Far Eastern ports, is an export route for Russian commodities, including coal. Fires at munition depots happen frequently in the former Soviet Union and are often blamed on negligence. (Reuters)