Burundi's army reported that at least 13 civilians were killed and 57 others wounded when ammunition exploded due to an electrical short circuit at a military base in the economic capital Bujumbura. Army spokesperson General Gaspard Baratuza stated on Wednesday that houses were damaged in various neighborhoods, along with private vehicles, and military equipment and facilities burned and were destroyed.

The explosions erupted late on Tuesday at the main ammunition depot of the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) in Musaga, a southern suburb of Bujumbura. The arsenal is located in a densely populated area and adjoins the Higher Institute for Military Cadres (ISCAM), where aspiring army officers are trained and housed. A senior police officer present at the site, who joined the firefighting team late Tuesday, said efforts were immediately slowed by a water shortage.

Burundi, ranked by the World Bank as the world's poorest country by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2023, has faced years of deep economic crises, including a severe fuel shortage. President Evariste Ndayishimiye expressed his “sympathy” to “all those who have been victims of the fire” in a social media message. Burundian authorities urged citizens to report unexploded munitions by phone, warning: “Be careful and DO NOT TOUCH”.

Source: www.aljazeera.com