Dnipropetrovsk blast caused by mishandling of gunpowder, says Interior Ministry

According to preliminary data, an outbreak of fire and smoke on the tram in Dnipropetrovsk was caused by a man dropping a container filled with gunpowder, head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's public relations department Volodymyr Polischuk has said.

"A man from Zaporizhia bought gunpowder and capsules. While on a tram, he accidentally dropped the container, the jar, on the floor," Polischuk said.

The fall caused a slight detonation (a pop), and a fire, and the man received burns to his feet, the spokesman said.

Polischuk said that no there had been no reports about other people being injured.

Interfax-Ukraine learned that the person responsible is a 40-year-old man, who is a member of a Dnipropetrovsk society of hunters and anglers.

The man was escorted by police officers to the hospital.