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Wikipedia News: Brazzaville ammunition magazine explosion

Brazzaville arms dump blasts. Via Wikipedia News:

On 4 March 2012, a series of blasts occurred at an army arms dump in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. As of late 6 March, 246 people have been confirmed dead.  ((Rep. of Congo: 246 Dead after arms depot blasts”. NPR. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012))  Additional bodies were said to be “unfindable.  ((CNN Wire Staff (4 March 2012). “Ammo dump explodes in Congo, killing 100-plus”. CNN. Retrieved 4 March 2012.))   Among the dead were six Chinese workers from a Beijing Construction Engineering Group work site close to the armoury.[4] Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou said that nearby hospitals were overflowing with injuries, with many wounded lying in hallways due to lack of space.  Total injures were estimated at 1,500-2,000.   ((Louis Okamba (5 March 2012). “Republic of Congo fire threatens second arms depot; first explosion killed hundreds”. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 March 2012.))  “Tens of thousands” of people were left without shelter. (( Hinshaw, Drew (4 March 2012). “Blasts Rock Republic of Congo’s Capital”. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2012.)) One survivor described the event as feeling like “the apocalypse;” (( Scores dead in Congo munitions depot blasts”. Al Jazeera. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012. ))     others described it as “like a tsunami” or earthquake.   ((  “206 killed in Republic of Congo arms depot blasts, including dozens attending Mass”. Washington Post. Associated Press. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.))

A disturbing example of why hazardous materials must be handled and stored with an abundance of caution and, if possible, away from living things.

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