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'Short-circuit' caused Congo's deadly arms depot blasts | 'Short-circuit' caused Congo's deadly arms depot blasts |
(40 minutes later) | |
Huge explosions at an arms depot that killed at least 146 people in Congo's capital Brazzaville were caused by a short-circuit that led to a fire, government officials say. | Huge explosions at an arms depot that killed at least 146 people in Congo's capital Brazzaville were caused by a short-circuit that led to a fire, government officials say. |
They say some 1,500 people were hurt. | They say some 1,500 people were hurt. |
Rescuers are still searching for survivors amid fears that the death toll would rise further. | Rescuers are still searching for survivors amid fears that the death toll would rise further. |
The force of the blasts was felt several miles away in the city of Kinshasa, across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | The force of the blasts was felt several miles away in the city of Kinshasa, across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
The BBC's Thomas Hubert, in Kinshasa, says residents of east Brazzaville fled when the blasts began. | The BBC's Thomas Hubert, in Kinshasa, says residents of east Brazzaville fled when the blasts began. |
Exclusion zone | Exclusion zone |
He says the explosions started shortly after 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Sunday and continued into the early afternoon, causing panic in both cities. | He says the explosions started shortly after 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Sunday and continued into the early afternoon, causing panic in both cities. |
"It's like a tsunami passed through here. The roofs of houses were blown off," Congolese student Christine Ibata, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | "It's like a tsunami passed through here. The roofs of houses were blown off," Congolese student Christine Ibata, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
Government spokesman Bienvenu Okyemi said late on Sunday that a short-circuit led to a fire which then quickly spread through the depot. | Government spokesman Bienvenu Okyemi said late on Sunday that a short-circuit led to a fire which then quickly spread through the depot. |
He added that the confirmed death toll stood at 146, but rescuers continued to comb the area. | He added that the confirmed death toll stood at 146, but rescuers continued to comb the area. |
The main fire was now under control, the spokesman said, though a number of buildings were still burning. | The main fire was now under control, the spokesman said, though a number of buildings were still burning. |
After visiting two hospitals, visibly shaken President Denis Sassou-Nguesso said the government was doing all it could and urged the Congolese "to show courage and solidarity". | After visiting two hospitals, visibly shaken President Denis Sassou-Nguesso said the government was doing all it could and urged the Congolese "to show courage and solidarity". |
He also announced a curfew in the area and set up an exclusion zone. | |
The government also asked "several international organisations" to provide assistance in dealing with the disaster, the AFP news agency reports. | The government also asked "several international organisations" to provide assistance in dealing with the disaster, the AFP news agency reports. |
Defence Minister Charles Zacharie Bowao earlier appeared on national TV to urge calm in Brazzaville and across the Congo river in Kinshasa. | Defence Minister Charles Zacharie Bowao earlier appeared on national TV to urge calm in Brazzaville and across the Congo river in Kinshasa. |
"The explosions that you have heard don't mean there is a war or a coup d'etat," he said. | "The explosions that you have heard don't mean there is a war or a coup d'etat," he said. |
"Nor does it mean there was a mutiny. It is an incident caused by a fire at the munitions depot." | "Nor does it mean there was a mutiny. It is an incident caused by a fire at the munitions depot." |
Streets in the capital were littered with twisted sheets of metal and debris. | Streets in the capital were littered with twisted sheets of metal and debris. |
Didier Boutsindi, of the presidential office, said many people were trapped in the wreckage of a collapsed church. | Didier Boutsindi, of the presidential office, said many people were trapped in the wreckage of a collapsed church. |
A worker for Congolese TV, speaking from hospital, told how he was injured amid the panic. | A worker for Congolese TV, speaking from hospital, told how he was injured amid the panic. |
"I was at home and suddenly I heard this explosion coming from the camp," he said. | "I was at home and suddenly I heard this explosion coming from the camp," he said. |
"There was panic. Houses and walls started collapsing and when we went outside, a wall fell on my head." | "There was panic. Houses and walls started collapsing and when we went outside, a wall fell on my head." |
In Kinshasa, windows were blown out and roofs damaged by the blasts. | In Kinshasa, windows were blown out and roofs damaged by the blasts. |
Our correspondent in Kinshasa says many people fled from the river when the explosions started, fearing shelling had broken out in Brazzaville. | Our correspondent in Kinshasa says many people fled from the river when the explosions started, fearing shelling had broken out in Brazzaville. |
China's Xinhua news agency said six Chinese workers were among those killed and several others had been injured, some seriously. | China's Xinhua news agency said six Chinese workers were among those killed and several others had been injured, some seriously. |
The Beijing Construction Engineering Group said about 140 Chinese workers were at a construction site near the scene of the blasts, the agency added. | The Beijing Construction Engineering Group said about 140 Chinese workers were at a construction site near the scene of the blasts, the agency added. |
Xinhua said the windows of its bureau office in Brazzaville had been blown out by the explosions. | Xinhua said the windows of its bureau office in Brazzaville had been blown out by the explosions. |