Republic of Congo authorities continued working in conjunction with Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Monday to put a stop to loose ammunition exploding across Brazzaville. The ammunition was scattered across the capital on Sunday after a fire caused several explosions at an ammunition depot.
“We will face this. We are trying to organize ourselves. I am asking the population to show courage and solidarity,” President Denis Sassou-Nguesso said.
“The location means that this explosion is devastating, involving a huge number of casualties and enormous damage to the area," MAG official Lionel Cattaneo said in a statement. "Educating people about the risks, and removing and destroying these deadly items, are of critical concern. We have the full support of the Republic of Congo government and have teams responding as a matter of urgency to help avoid further loss of life.”
Authorities believe a short circuit sparked Sunday’s fire at the ammunition depot. The initial set of explosions was so powerful that many homes and buildings collapsed. The neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo reported numerous shattered windows in the capital of Kinshasa, which is located across the Congo River about 3 miles away from Brazzaville.
The death toll rose to 213 on Monday as rescue workers continued to pull bodies from piles of rubble. Officials expect the toll to rise. About 2,000 people have been injured in the crisis.
###
Click here for more World News
