Congo blast death toll rises to 282
2012-04-01 13:08
Brazzaville -The death toll from
explosions at a Congolese munitions dump in early March rose to at least 282
after more bodies were found during clearance operations, the government said
on Saturday.
A previous official toll on March 11 listed 223 dead.
"As clean-up operations continue, more bodies have been found,"
said Planning Minister Pierre Moussa who heads the committee investigating the
disaster. "At the new cemetery at least 282 burials have taken
place."
The powerful March 4 blasts in the Congolese capital Brazzaville, blamed on
a short-circuit and fire, destroyed hundreds of homes around the depot.
More than 2 300 people were injured and 14 000 people made homeless.
