At least 20 dead in Dar explosions

Thursday, 17 February 2011 09:29
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By The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. At least 17 people have been confirmed dead following explosions at Tanzania People Defence Forces (TPDF) arms’ depots at its Gombo la Mboto camp in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has told the Parliament in Dodoma this morning that there are reports of three more deaths in the Kitunda area, a few kilometres from the Dar es Salaam metropolis.

He said 13 bodies have been preserved at Amana Hospital in Ilala, two at Temeke District Hospital and two at Muhimbili National Hospital.

He said the explosions started in one depot before spreading to others in the camp. Until this morning, a total of 23 depots had been razed by the explosions.

He said at least two residential houses and a secondary school were also destroyed by the explosions.

Premier Pinda told the National Assembly that at least 4,000 people have been sheltered at the National Stadium as more preparations are being made to accommodate all the victims of the blasts.

“The number of those who have died might increase and we will know the extent of the destruction and damage this morning,” he said.

The Speaker of the national assembly, Ms Anne Makinda, adjourned the parliament session to give parliamentary committees time to meet over the disaster.