One person has died and multiple others were injured in a series of large explosions that rocked the area of a Russian military airbase in the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea on Tuesday, local authorities have said, writes CNN.

Footage from the scene showed large plumes of smoke billowing into the air. The Russian defense ministry said the blasts had been caused by detonated aviation ammunition.

“Around 3:20 p.m., several aviation munitions detonated on the territory of the airfield “Saki” near the settlement of Novofedorivka”, - the ministry said.

Kоnstantin Skorupsky, “Minister of Health” of Crimea, said five people were injured following the explosions. It is not clear if the person who died was among those previously reported as injured.

Ambulance crews and an air ambulance were sent to the site of the explosions.