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| 'Many dead' in Albania explosions | 'Many dead' in Albania explosions |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Albanian PM Sali Berisha says a "considerable" number of people have been killed in huge explosions at an arms depot near the capital, Tirana. | |
| His spokeswoman Juela Mecani said four bodies had been recovered, but more than 60 people - including US citizens - were at the scene at the time. | His spokeswoman Juela Mecani said four bodies had been recovered, but more than 60 people - including US citizens - were at the scene at the time. |
| More than 150 people, many of them civilians from the surrounding area, including children, were injured. | |
| Military experts were disposing of old shells at the time of the blasts. | Military experts were disposing of old shells at the time of the blasts. |
| They were reported to be being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help the Albanian army dispose of surplus munitions. | They were reported to be being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help the Albanian army dispose of surplus munitions. |
| In pictures: Albania blasts class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7298610.stm">'Shrapnel falling from sky' | |
| The explosions at the army depot in Gerdec village, some 10km north of Tirana, were heard more than 50km (30 miles) away. | The explosions at the army depot in Gerdec village, some 10km north of Tirana, were heard more than 50km (30 miles) away. |
| The initial explosion was followed by a series of blasts, and ammunition continued to detonate for hours. | The initial explosion was followed by a series of blasts, and ammunition continued to detonate for hours. |
| Attempts to fly rescuers into the area by helicopter were thwarted by the continuing explosions, and armoured vehicles were used to ferry rescue units into the area. | Attempts to fly rescuers into the area by helicopter were thwarted by the continuing explosions, and armoured vehicles were used to ferry rescue units into the area. |
| Injured people were taken to nearby hospitals. Local media reports said their injuries included burns, concussion, broken limbs, and cuts from flying glass and shrapnel. | Injured people were taken to nearby hospitals. Local media reports said their injuries included burns, concussion, broken limbs, and cuts from flying glass and shrapnel. |
| "The number of dead is considerable," Mr Berisha told reporters. | "The number of dead is considerable," Mr Berisha told reporters. |
| Mr Berisha - who visited some of the injured in hospital - said he could not rule out human error as the cause of the explosions, but added that the ammunition could have exploded spontaneously because of its age. | Mr Berisha - who visited some of the injured in hospital - said he could not rule out human error as the cause of the explosions, but added that the ammunition could have exploded spontaneously because of its age. |
| "The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat," Mr Berisha said. | "The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat," Mr Berisha said. |
| "There is a colossal, crazy amount of it dating back to 1945." | "There is a colossal, crazy amount of it dating back to 1945." |
| Flights were suspended at Mother Teresa Tirana International Airport, several kilometres from the base, for 30 minutes after windows there were shattered. | Flights were suspended at Mother Teresa Tirana International Airport, several kilometres from the base, for 30 minutes after windows there were shattered. |
| The US embassy in Tirana said it was unable to confirm that there were US citizens at the depot. | The US embassy in Tirana said it was unable to confirm that there were US citizens at the depot. |
| Are you in the area of the explosions? Do you have any information you would like to share? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area of the explosions? Do you have any information you would like to share? Send us your comments using the form below. |