Deadly blast in Albania, scores feared dead

Five bodies have been recovered so far from an army depot explosion near Tirana. Many children are among the victims, while the city's nearby international airport is also damaged, authorities in Tirana have said, adding that they believe up to 63 people have died in the incident. Deadly blast in Albania, scores feared dead Foreign news agencies put the number at around 160. 200 have suffered injuries from a series of explosions that lasted for over two hours and were heard in neighboring Macedonia. The media speculate that a number of U.S. military personnel present at the site at the time of the explosion could be among the casualties. The blast set off ammunition stored at the army depot, prompting authorities to suspend flights for at least 30 minutes at Mother Theresa Tirana International Airport. Health Minister Nard Ndoka said earlier at least 155 people, including many children, had suffered injuries. The depot, which is used as a location to destroy excess ammunition, is at Gerdec village, some 10 kilometers north of the capital Tirana. The blast was heard more than 50 kilometers away, and people fled from nearby villages. Prime Minister Sali Berisha described the situation as "serious", adding that the area near the depot was being evacuated, his spokeswoman Juela Mecani said. "It is an alarming situation," Mecani told The Associated Press. Police said that the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but that it was not believed to have been caused by a bombing. Houses more than one kilometer away were damaged by the blast, an AP photographer at the scene said. The nearby area had no power supply following the explosion. The scene close to the explosion site (FoNet)

Deadly blast in Albania, scores feared dead

Foreign news agencies put the number at around 160.

200 have suffered injuries from a series of explosions that lasted for over two hours and were heard in neighboring Macedonia.

The media speculate that a number of U.S. military personnel present at the site at the time of the explosion could be among the casualties.

The blast set off ammunition stored at the army depot, prompting authorities to suspend flights for at least 30 minutes at Mother Theresa Tirana International Airport.

Health Minister Nard Ndoka said earlier at least 155 people, including many children, had suffered injuries.

The depot, which is used as a location to destroy excess ammunition, is at Gerdec village, some 10 kilometers north of the capital Tirana. The blast was heard more than 50 kilometers away, and people fled from nearby villages.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha described the situation as "serious", adding that the area near the depot was being evacuated, his spokeswoman Juela Mecani said.

"It is an alarming situation," Mecani told The Associated Press.

Police said that the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but that it was not believed to have been caused by a bombing.

Houses more than one kilometer away were damaged by the blast, an AP photographer at the scene said.

The nearby area had no power supply following the explosion.