At least eight people are now known to have been killed by massive explosions at an arms dump in Albania, as rescuers continued to search the site.
At least nine people are now known to have been killed by a series of massive explosions at an arms dump near the Albanian capital, Tirana.
More than 240 others were injured in Saturday's blasts, which struck outside a village near the capital Tirana.
More than 240 others were injured in the blasts. Some have been transferred to hospitals in Italy and Greece.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said the death toll might rise.
The government said more than 300 buildings in the area had been completely destroyed.
Rescuers had not reached the main blast by nightfall on Saturday, as ammunition continued to explode, but resumed their attempts at daybreak on Sunday.
Rescuers searching the site of the explosions, which lasted 18 hours, have stopped work for the night.
It was unclear how many people were working at the site when the explosions began - estimates varied from about 60 to 80 - or how many might be unaccounted for.
"The search will resume tomorrow morning because it is impossible to work at night in the zone, with a lot of unexploded shells and munitions that are a danger to everyone," said Albania's chief of staff, Gen Luan Hoxha.
The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat Prime Minister Sali Berisha
The accident happened as specialists were dismantling obsolete munitions at the site - some of the vast quantity amassed during Albania's communist years, and some dating back to 1945.
The explosions caused damage to a wide surrounding area, including Tirana's nearby international airport, and were heard more than 170km (100 miles) away in the Macedonian capital Skopje.
Homes destroyed
Hospitals have taken in injured people suffering burns, concussion, broken limbs and cuts from flying glass and shrapnel.
Juela Mecani, a spokeswoman for Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said a number of homes near the depot had been "completely destroyed".
Some 4,000 people were evacuated from neighbouring villages, some in armoured personnel carriers.
Mr Berisha's office quoted witnesses as saying the initial explosion was smaller than subsequent blasts, allowing many of the estimated 110 workers on the site to escape.
"Ten minutes passed before the biggest blast and many workers used this time to flee," its statement said.
Sunday saw rescuers find three charred bodies at the arms dump, and the body of a woman in a nearby house. Five bodies were recovered on Saturday.
Mr Berisha promised an official inquiry into the accident after visiting victims in hospitals in Tirana.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha told reporters that at least a dozen people were still believed to be missing.
"The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat," Mr Berisha said.
Mr Berisha said he had ordered the country's chief prosecutor to oversee investigations into the blasts.
"There is a colossal, crazy amount of it dating back to 1945."
The village of Gerdec adjoining the base has been declared an emergency zone, and Mr Berisha promised aid for villagers who had lost their homes.
Aid offered
"As soon as the damage is fully assessed, the government will commit all its resources to quickly react and rebuild the totally destroyed zone," he said.
The base was a central collection point for an arsenal amassed by Albania's former communist dictatorship.
Nato membership
Albania has been offered international medical and other aid
The accident happened as specialists were dismantling obsolete munitions at the site - some of the vast quantity amassed during Albania's communist years, and some dating back to 1945.
Albania has about 100,000 tons of excess ammunition stored in former army depots across the country, according to Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu.
Albanian military experts were being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help them dispose of surplus munitions. There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts.
The military experts at the base where the blasts occurred were being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help the Albanian army dispose of surplus munitions.
Albania has about 100,000 tons of ammunition stored in former army depots across the country, according to Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu.
There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts.
Destroying the old munitions is one of the conditions Albania must fulfil to become a member of Nato.
Countries including the US, Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Kosovo have offered medical and other aid to the Albanian authorities in the wake of the explosions.
Along with Croatia and Macedonia, Albania hopes to be invited to join the Western military alliance at a summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest early next month.
