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Soldiers Clear Live Munitions from Afghan Town After Blast; Death Toll at 25
Saturday, June 29, 2002
By Asghar Ali
Canadian Press Writer

Nida Mohammed, a 21-year-old man who lives near the munitions depot, said live ammunition rained onto his roof and many of the rounds remained there until Saturday. He said he and many others slept outside of their homes Friday night.

SPINBOLDAK, Afghanistan -- CP
Afghan soldiers began clearing unexploded bombs and ammunition Saturday after a massive blast at a munitions depot scattered rockets, mortars and bullets throughout this southern Afghan border town. At least 25 people were confirmed dead and dozens hurt.

The blast, which killed at least seven Afghan soldiers and 18 civilians scattered munitions throughout a one kilometre radius, and were heard as a series of thundering explosions five kilometres away in the Pakistani town of Chaman.

An explosion was also heard in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early Saturday from the direction of the airport, but authorities said it caused no injuries and the cause wasn't immediately clear. The airport was heavily mined at one time, and international peacekeepers have been working for months to clear the area.

Fazaludin Agha, the local military commander in Spinboldak, about 480 kilometres southwest of Kabul, said the initial blast on Thursday was triggered by a rocket attack, but it was not known who fired it.

Secondary explosions continued into the early hours of Friday in the former Taliban stronghold. The munitions had originally belonged to the Taliban, but were later commandeered by Afghan forces.

Many of the dead were buried under debris, said the munitions dump's manager, Fazal Rahim.
(More: Ottawa, Canada.com News Source)
2002 © The Canadian Press.

Dan