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Albanian army depot blast kills 7, 243 injured
A massive explosion at an Albanian army ammunition dump near Tirana Saturday killed at least seven people and injured 243, including many children, authorities said.
- Agencies
- Published: 21:38 March 15, 2008
Tirana: A massive explosion at an Albanian army ammunition dump near Tirana Saturday killed at least seven people and injured 243, including many children, authorities said.
The initial blast at the depot at Gerdec village, about 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the capital, Tirana, set off a series of explosions, and ammunition continued to detonate into the night.
Officials fear the number of fatalities could rise considerably in the coming days. By late Saturday night, 142 remained in hospital, and 12 of those were in serious condition.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said the blasts probably took place while ammunition was being dismantled. He said that the situation was "very serious and very alarming."
He also said 10 workers are still missing after the chain of explosions.
The blasts were so powerful that they were heard in neighbouring Macedonia, prompting dozens of citizens to alert local police, believing the explosions were in the country itself.
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