Stocks of iodine are falling at a rapid pace as worried citizens in neighbouring towns stock up after the shocking incident just miles away. Areas of Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk have been the worst hit, with the latter just 29 miles east of the explosion site at Nyonoksa. Speaking to local agency Interfax news agency, one pharmacist revealed the commotion as residents scrambled for the potentially life-saving iodine.
They said: “Yesterday it was all sold out. The excitement started at about five o’clock, and they bought all of it before we closed.
“At the checkout people were discussing the news about radiation in Severdvinsk, the explosion at the military site.”
Another added: “Everyone has been calling asking about iodine all day.”
While one pharmacy in Arkhangelsk said: “We still have iodine left, but a really large number of people have come in for it today.”
Iodine can help block the thyroid glands take up of radioactive iodine and was the desperate choice for residents near the blast.
Local authorities warned radiation levels spiked for about 40 minutes after the blast, but say these have since returned to normal.
The increase only saw radiation reach 2 microsieverts per hour, up from 0.11. But neither reading can cause radiation sickness.
Ksenia Yudina from the city’s authorities said: “A short-term rise in background radiation was recorded at 12 o’clock in the Severodvinsk.”
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They did reveal two people were killed in the blast, with a further six receiving injuries.
A statement said: “During testing of a liquid jet engine an explosion and combustion of the product occurred.
“There have been no harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere, the radiation levels are normal.”
Local news agency 29.ru said medics who attended the incident at the Nyonoksa base were seen wearing chemical and nuclear protection suits.
Navy officials are keeping shipping way from nearby Dvina Bay for one month, but some officials claimed this was a planned closure and had nothing to do with the recent explosion.
The launch site near Nyonoksa has seen a wide range of weapons tests for the Russian navy.
Killer weapons such as sea-launched Intercontinental ballistic missiles. Cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles are tested at the base.
The incident was the second to hit Russia in the space of a week after another explosion caused havoc on Monday.
Blasts ripped through an arms depot at a Siberian military base on Monday as thousands were evacuated from nearby towns.
One person was killed and 13 were injured in the incident in a tragic week for the Russian military.