BUJUMBURA, Apr 02 (V7N) — At least 13 civilians were killed and 57 others injured when a massive explosion ripped through a military base in Burundi’s economic capital on Tuesday evening. The blast occurred at the main ammunition depot of the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) in the Musaga area, a southern suburb of Bujumbura.

According to army spokesperson General Gaspard Baratuza, the disaster was triggered by an electrical short circuit that sparked a fire within the logistics brigade's storage facility.

Impact and Casualties

The explosions, which began late Tuesday and lasted for several hours, sent projectiles and shrapnel flying into nearby densely populated neighborhoods.

  • Civilian Toll: Authorities confirmed that all 13 of the deceased were civilians. Among the 57 wounded, three are reported to be soldiers.

  • Prison Fatalities: Reports indicate that the blast also affected the neighboring Mpimba Central Prison, where at least two to eight inmates were among the dead.

  • Property Damage: Numerous houses and private vehicles were destroyed by falling debris, and the military base camp was reportedly "reduced to ashes."

Emergency Response Challenges

Firefighters faced significant hurdles in containing the "massive inferno" due to a severe water shortage in the city. Witnesses described a night of terror as projectiles landed randomly across the district, forcing residents to flee their homes in the dark.

General Baratuza urged the public to remain calm and cautioned citizens against touching any unexploded ordnance found in their neighborhoods, asking them to report such items to the authorities immediately. President Évariste Ndayishimiye expressed his deep sympathy to the victims via social media, as the government works to assess the full scale of the devastation.

While the official death toll stands at 13, some security sources and eyewitnesses have suggested the final number could be higher given the density of the surrounding residential areas and the severity of the blasts.

END/SMA/AJ