NIAMEY, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Continuous gunfire was heard in the area surrounding Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in the early hours of Thursday. Several local residents said the gunfire lasted for more than one hour.

The area also hosts Niger's Air Force Base 101 as well as military-related installations linked to the Confederation of Sahel States.

Residents living near the airport told Xinhua that the gunfire appeared to originate from areas around the airport.

No casualties have been reported so far.

A Xinhua correspondent on the ground observed that traffic on major roads in Niamey remains normal.

No visible reinforcement of security forces has been seen around the airport area, and the movement of people and vehicles appears largely unaffected.

The Nigerien military and government have not yet issued any official statement regarding the incident. The cause of the gunfire and the operational status of the airport remain to be confirmed.

The area was previously targeted in an attack attributed to an extremist group in late January, during which Nigerien defense and security forces said at least 20 attackers were neutralized and 11 others were arrested.