Huge blasts rocked the main Greek Cypriot naval base at Zygi in the south of the Mediterranean island early today, the state CNA news agency reported.

"There were 98 containers of gunpowder. Two of them (caught) fire and huge explosions occurred," the news agency quoted a police spokesman as saying.

The spokesman said that the blasts, which struck shortly before 6 am  were the probable cause of widespread power cuts that hit the island early today.

Several people are reported to have been killed in the blasts.

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