Explosion in Ecuador Kills 5, Injures 300

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 21, 2002

Explosion in Ecuador Kills 5, Injures 300

An explosion tore through an ammunition depot at Ecuador's largest military base Wednesday, killing five people and injuring about 300, officials said.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

An explosion tore through an ammunition depot at Ecuador's largest military base Wednesday, killing five people and injuring about 300, officials said.

Army Gen. Luis Aguas, a brigade commander in Quito, said ammunition apparently detonated at the Galapagos Mechanized Base and caused a second, larger explosion.

He said it wasn't known what caused the explosion, and communication was cut off with the base in the city of Riobamba, 100 miles south of Quito.

Coba said the blasts caused a fire that spilled out of the military base and engulfed a building.

Army spokesman Col. Arturo Cadena told Television Channel 4 that five people �� three civilians and two soldiers �� were killed.

Health Minister Vicente Habze told Guayaquil's CRE radio that about 300 people were wounded and that relief efforts had been hampered by a power outage in the blast area.

The majority of Ecuador's tank units are located at the Riobamba base, which CRE radio reported is the home to about 1,500 soldiers.

Source: Agencies

Questions?Comments? Click here

Ecuador Opposes U.S. Use of Manta Military Base

Heavy Rain Destroy 35,000 Hectares of Crops in Ecuador

China Pushes Use of Ethanol as Fuel ( 7 Messages)

Eight Opportunities before China Within Upcoming 20 Years ( 2 Messages)

Sino-US Relations Improve Despite Neo-realism ( 9 Messages)

Cabbage Tells Changes of Beijingers' Life ( 4 Messages)

Advanced Real-time Simulation Computer Passes Appraisal in Central China ( 2 Messages)