Health Minister: Nine people killed in explosions at Chad ammo depot

According to health minister Abdelmadjid Abderahim, a fire at a military ammunition stockpile in the capital of Chad on Tuesday night resulted in explosions that left at least nine persons dead and over 46 injured.

Abderahim warned reporters on Wednesday that the number of fatalities would increase because so many people had severe injuries.

Explosions over the military camp close to the country’s principal international airport in central Africa lighted up the night sky, as spent shells flew into surrounding homes, sending their terrified occupants scrambling for shelter.

President Mahamat Idriss Deby went to the scene on Wednesday morning, where the ground was covered in twisted metal and broken automobiles surrounding a crater.