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'Short-circuit' caused Congo's deadly arms depot blasts | 'Short-circuit' caused Congo's deadly arms depot blasts |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Huge explosions at an arms depot, which 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, which 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. |
A BBC reporter in the city says rescuers still searching for survivors are unable to get into the blast site because of unexploded shells. | |
The force of the blasts was felt several miles away in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | |
The BBC's Thomas Hubert in Brazzaville says there are fears that hundreds of bodies could be buried in the rubble of buildings surrounding the ammunition store. | |
Exclusion zone | Exclusion zone |
Emergency workers say there are also fears that fires could spread to a second, bigger arms depot, close to the first one. | |
Residents in the east of Brazzaville fled when the first blasts occurred - and at least 2,000 people are now in temporary shelters throughout the city. | |
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 - which are separated by the river Congo. | |
"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, although hospital sources have told the BBC it is more than 200. | |
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. | 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." |
Across the River Congo in Kinshasa, windows were blown out and roofs damaged by the blasts. | |
Our correspondent who was in Kinshasa at the time of the blasts says many people fled from the river 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. |