Many people have died in a series of huge explosions at a military arms depot near the Albanian capital Tirana, Prime Minister Sali Berisha says.
Albanian PM Sali Berisha says a "considerable" number of people have been killed in huge explosions at an army depot near the capital, Tirana.
About 150 people, including children, were also wounded in the explosions.
His spokeswoman Juela Mecani said more than 60 people - including US citizens - were at the scene at the time.
A government spokeswoman said about 60 people, including US nationals, were at the army base when the blasts happened. She added: "We fear the worst."
More than 150 people, many of them civilians, including children, are said to have been injured.
The explosions are believed to have begun while three explosives teams were dismantling munitions at the base.
Military experts were disposing of old shells at the time of the blasts, heard more than 50km (30 miles) away.
Mr Berisha said helicopters had been sent to the scene in the village of Gerdec, some 12km (seven miles) north of Tirana, to evacuate residents.
They were reported to be being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help the Albanian army get rid of surplus munitions.
But they had not managed to land as explosions were continuing, officials said.
The army depot is in Gerdec village, some 10km north of Tirana.
The blasts lasted for about two hours and shattered windows at the nearby Mother Teresa airport.
"The number of dead is considerable," Mr Berisha told reporters.
They were so powerful that they were heard in the coastal town of Durres more than 20km (12 miles) away.
"Special army units with armoured vehicles went to the scene of the incident in a bid to rescue those who worked there."
Ms Mecani told Reuters news agency: "We do not know the exact number [of casualties] but we fear the worst for the three teams, each of 21 people, working there at the time. Several were US citizens."
The US embassy in Tirana said it was unable to confirm that there were US citizens at the depot.
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