A 19-year-old professional soldier serving in a National Guard battalion on the island of Rhodes was killed and a 39-year-old sergeant major was seriously injured when the ammunition they were checking exploded on Wednesday morning.
The tragedy occurred shortly after 10 o’ clock in the morning in the area of Afantou where the two soldiers were handling weapons and hand grenades for a drill.
According to preliminary reports. the explosion was triggered when one of the soldiers accidentally set off a defensive hand grenade during the ammunition inspection.
The explosion killed the 19-year-old soldier on the spot. The second soldier was seriously injured and according to reports from his colleagues, he lost part of his right hand and has shrapnel wounds throughout his body as well as to his head. He is currently undergoing surgery at the hospital of Rhodes.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.
