Explosions at Burundi ammunition depot kill civilians, witnesses say

## Summary
Explosions at Burundi ammunition depot kill civilians, witnesses say 24 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google BBC Gahuza AFP via Getty Images Remnants of munitions have been discovered in impacted areas of the city At least four people have been killed by a series of powerful explosions at an ammunitions depot in Burundi's largest city, Bujumbura, local residents have told the BBC. The authorities have not yet provided any casualty figures but family members and eyewitnesses told the BBC of four separate deaths in the city. More BBC stories about Burundi: Ndayishimiye knew football was route from 'unimaginable poverty' 'I risked drowning to flee conscription by Congolese rebels' 'I can't wait to see my children' - freed talk-show host Getty Images/BBC Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica , on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Focus on Africa This Is Africa Burundi Africa Bujumbura

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Explosions at Burundi ammunition depot kill civilians, witnesses say
24 minutes ago
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BBC Gahuza
AFP via Getty Images
Remnants of munitions have been discovered in impacted areas of the city
At least four people have been killed by a series of powerful explosions at an ammunitions depot in Burundi's largest city, Bujumbura, local residents have told the BBC.
The blasts erupted late on Tuesday at the facility, located in the suburb of Musaga, due to an electrical fault, an army spokesperson said.
Shrapnel and debris were propelled more than 5km (three miles) and several houses in nearby districts were destroyed by the force of the explosions.
The authorities have not yet provided any casualty figures but family members and eyewitnesses told the BBC of four separate deaths in the city. The AFP news agency quotes security sources as saying that dozens of people had died.
One woman told BBC Gahuza that a relative, who had been detained at Mpimba Central Prison, had died after a bomb hit the facility.
Numerous inmates at the prison, which is located near the ammunitions store, are reported to have been injured.
In the north-eastern neighbourhood of Gisandema, witnesses told BBC Gahuza that a bomb had destroyed a house and killed a domestic worker.
The authorities have said they cannot yet comment on the number of casualties as they are still assessing the extent of the damage.
The explosions sent plumes of smoke rising above the city, sparking panic in the city of more than a million people.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye, in a message on X, expressed his condolences to all Burundians, adding that the authorities are "here to help".
More BBC stories about Burundi:
Ndayishimiye knew football was route from 'unimaginable poverty'
'I risked drowning to flee conscription by Congolese rebels'
'I can't wait to see my children' - freed talk-show host
Getty Images/BBC
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This article covers bbc, city, africa topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 355.