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Scores Feared Dead in Albanian Explosions
Aged ammunition supply bunker blows; human error possible cause
By Kevin Spak
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Posted Mar 15, 08 12:04 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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A series of massive explosions rocked an Albanian army base today, where teams were working to dismantle obsolete Soviet-era munitions, Reuters reports. More than 170 were injured, with at least four confirmed dead. “We do not know the exact number” of casualties, said the prime minister, “but we fear the worst for the three teams working there at the time.”
Police and army forces rushed to the base in armored cars, as people fled along the highway on foot. Helicopters were unable to land because of the continuing explosions. Flights from the capital–just 8 miles away–were delayed for 30 minutes. So far the cause of the blast is unclear. “I do not exclude human error,” said the prime minister.