At least 13 people have been killed and 57 others injured in an explosion at a military base in Bujumbura, Burundi’s largest city, media reports said.
The blasts occurred late Tuesday at the main ammunition depot of the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) in the Musaga area, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit, Al Jazeera reported.
“Houses were damaged in various neighbourhoods, along with private vehicles. Military equipment and facilities were also burned and destroyed,” army spokesman Gen. Gaspard Baratuza said in a statement.
President Évariste Ndayishimiye, in a message on social media, expressed his sympathy to all those affected by the incident.
The arsenal in Musaga is located in a densely populated area and is adjacent to the Higher Institute for Military Cadres (ISCAM), where future army officers are trained and housed.
The explosion comes as Burundi continues to face severe economic challenges, including fuel shortages, and remains among the world’s poorest countries.
kk/sa
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