13 dead as fire triggers explosions in Burundi

BUJUMBURA — A massive fire that erupted at a storage unit inside a military camp in Burundi overnight set off explosives that triggered several blasts and killed 13 people, the army said on Wednesday.

The inferno on Tuesday night also left at least 57 people injured. Army spokesman Gaspard Baratuza said the fire was caused by a short-circuit in the storage unit. Three soldiers were among those injured, he said. It was not clear if all the fatalities were civilians.

Residents near the camp, located in Musaga area on the outskirts of the commercial hub of Bujumbura, the largest city in the East African country, had fled in panic.

The blaze was visible from kilometers away. The explosions hurled munitions all around the camp, prompting a senior official, Major General Aloys Ndayikengurukiye, to urge the public to report any unexploded ordnance or suspicious objects so they could be safely removed.

Spokesman Baratuza reassured the public that there had been no attack on the military camp and urged residents to remain calm. The fire had also cut off power in the camp and the surrounding areas.

"We ask residents of the Gasekebuye, Kanyosha, Kinindo areas and surrounding neighborhoods to remain calm and not give in to panic," Baratuza said.

Agencies Via Xinhua