Khaberni - The Burundi military announced that 13 people lost their lives and 57 others were injured due to an ammunition depot explosion in the commercial capital Bujumbura on Wednesday night, due to an electrical short circuit.
The military spokesperson, Gaspar Baratuza, confirmed that homes and private vehicles were damaged, in addition to the burning of equipment and military facilities. The military did not specify if there were any fatalities among its ranks.
Reuters agency quoted eyewitnesses around the military base stating that the explosions lasted several hours and that projectiles were falling randomly on the neighboring neighborhoods.
One resident of the nearby Musaga neighborhood reported seeing a young woman fall to the ground while trying to flee with a group of people, only to find out later that she had sustained severe injuries from a bomb. Another citizen mentioned that a man died after leaving a service in a church in the Gasekebuye neighborhood.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye expressed his sympathy for the victims, while the authorities urged citizens to report any unexploded ordnance by phone, warning against touching or approaching it.
The explosion which shook Bujumbura brought to the forefront the risks associated with storing ammunition in populated areas, and raised questions about safety measures in military facilities, especially in a country suffering from fragile infrastructure and frequent accidents related to weapons and ammunition.
