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Dozens dead in Mozambique blasts Dozens dead in Mozambique blasts
(about 16 hours later)
At least 72 people have been confirmed dead after a series of explosions at a weapons depot in Mozambique, government officials say. More than 90 people have been killed after a series of explosions at a weapons depot in Mozambique, government officials say.
Thousands of people fled as the blasts near Maputo international airport threw shells and shrapnel into the air.Thousands of people fled as the blasts near Maputo international airport threw shells and shrapnel into the air.
More than 100 people were injured in the blasts, as the initial blasts caused further detonations. Several hundred people were injured in the blasts, as the initial blasts caused further detonations.
It was the second time in less than two months that aging explosives in the arsenal have detonated.It was the second time in less than two months that aging explosives in the arsenal have detonated.
President Armano Guebuza appealed for calm and said the military was investigating the cause. "In Maputo hospitals, we registered 96 people dead and more than 400 injured," Health Minister Ivo Garrido said at a news conference.
"Our defence forces are working to assess the situation. We call upon all our citizens to be calm until the situation is rectified," he said on national TV. In a speech on national television, President Armano Guebuza appealed for calm and said the military was investigating the cause.
The government later declared three days of mourning and set up a commission of inquiry into the accident.
Huge cacheHuge cache
Officials blamed the high summer temperatures for the previous explosions.Officials blamed the high summer temperatures for the previous explosions.
Twenty tonnes of obsolete equipment have been awaiting destruction.Twenty tonnes of obsolete equipment have been awaiting destruction.
The weapons depot near the neighbourhood of Magoanine is the largest in Mozambique, reports said.The weapons depot near the neighbourhood of Magoanine is the largest in Mozambique, reports said.
"It's the biggest armoury in the country. It contains thousands of tonnes of weapons and ammunition," Miguel Barreiro, a United Nations official in charge of the country's disarmament program, told the AFP news agency."It's the biggest armoury in the country. It contains thousands of tonnes of weapons and ammunition," Miguel Barreiro, a United Nations official in charge of the country's disarmament program, told the AFP news agency.