In the evening of 31 August, an explosion in a large ammunition depot of the Joint Operations Force in Misrata – in al-Sikkirat, a residential area west of the city – triggered a major fire, which in turn triggered further explosions. For hours, rockets and artillery shells were thrown out of the depot and hit the neighbouring areas. Some detonated on impact. It is not clear what triggered the first explosion, but safety standards in Libyan ammunition depots are very low. Allegedly, only 15 people were slightly injured. Subsequent investigations by the JOF have claimed there were no signs of deliberate sabotage.
