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| Albanian arms blast toll rises | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least eight people are now known to have been killed by massive explosions at an arms dump in Albania, as rescuers continued to search the site. | |
| More than 240 others were injured in Saturday's blasts, which struck outside a village near the capital Tirana. | |
| Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said the death toll might rise. | Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said the death toll might rise. |
| Rescuers had not reached the main blast by nightfall on Saturday, as ammunition continued to explode, but resumed their attempts at daybreak on Sunday. | Rescuers had not reached the main blast by nightfall on Saturday, as ammunition continued to explode, but resumed their attempts at daybreak on Sunday. |
| It was unclear how many people were working at the site when the explosions began - estimates varied from about 60 to 80 - or how many might be unaccounted for. | It was unclear how many people were working at the site when the explosions began - estimates varied from about 60 to 80 - or how many might be unaccounted for. |
| The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat Prime Minister Sali Berisha | The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat Prime Minister Sali Berisha |
| The accident happened as specialists were dismantling obsolete munitions at the site - some of the vast quantity amassed during Albania's communist years, and some dating back to 1945. | The accident happened as specialists were dismantling obsolete munitions at the site - some of the vast quantity amassed during Albania's communist years, and some dating back to 1945. |
| The explosions caused damage to a wide surrounding area, including Tirana's nearby international airport, and were heard more than 170km (100 miles) away in the Macedonian capital Skopje. | The explosions caused damage to a wide surrounding area, including Tirana's nearby international airport, and were heard more than 170km (100 miles) away in the Macedonian capital Skopje. |
| Homes destroyed | Homes destroyed |
| Hospitals have taken in injured people suffering burns, concussion, broken limbs and cuts from flying glass and shrapnel. | Hospitals have taken in injured people suffering burns, concussion, broken limbs and cuts from flying glass and shrapnel. |
| Juela Mecani, a spokeswoman for Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said a number of homes near the depot had been "completely destroyed". | Juela Mecani, a spokeswoman for Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said a number of homes near the depot had been "completely destroyed". |
| Some 4,000 people were evacuated from neighbouring villages, some in armoured personnel carriers. | Some 4,000 people were evacuated from neighbouring villages, some in armoured personnel carriers. |
| Mr Berisha's office quoted witnesses as saying the initial explosion was smaller than subsequent blasts, allowing many of the estimated 110 workers on the site to escape. | Mr Berisha's office quoted witnesses as saying the initial explosion was smaller than subsequent blasts, allowing many of the estimated 110 workers on the site to escape. |
| In pictures: Albania blasts'Shrapnel falling from sky' | In pictures: Albania blasts'Shrapnel falling from sky' |
| "Ten minutes passed before the biggest blast and many workers used this time to flee," its statement said. | "Ten minutes passed before the biggest blast and many workers used this time to flee," its statement said. |
| Mr Berisha promised an official inquiry into the accident after visiting victims in hospitals in Tirana. | Mr Berisha promised an official inquiry into the accident after visiting victims in hospitals in Tirana. |
| "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." |
| Aid offered | Aid offered |
| The base was a central collection point for an arsenal amassed by Albania's former communist dictatorship. | The base was a central collection point for an arsenal amassed by Albania's former communist dictatorship. |
| Albania has been offered international medical and other aid | Albania has been offered international medical and other aid |
| Albania has about 100,000 tons of excess ammunition stored in former army depots across the country, according to Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu. | Albania has about 100,000 tons of excess ammunition stored in former army depots across the country, according to Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu. |
| The military experts at the base where the blasts occurred were being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help the Albanian army dispose of surplus munitions. | The military experts at the base where the blasts occurred were being assisted by employees of a US company contracted by Nato to help the Albanian army dispose of surplus munitions. |
| There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts. | There were no reports of foreigners having been on the site at the time of the blasts. |
| Countries including the US, Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Kosovo have offered medical and other aid to the Albanian authorities in the wake of the explosions. | Countries including the US, Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Kosovo have offered medical and other aid to the Albanian authorities in the wake of the explosions. |