Explosions at Myanmar warehouse kill at least 15

2011-12-29 09:32:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

YANGON, MYANMAR (BNO NEWS) -- At least 15 people were killed on early Thursday morning when a fire caused a series of explosions at a government-owned warehouse in the former Myanmar (Burma) capital of Yangon, officials said. Dozens more were injured.

The fire broke out at around 2 a.m. local time in Mingalataungnyunt township at a chemical storage warehouse which is part of the Ministry of Commerce, causing at least three large explosions as firefighters were attempting to get the fire under control. Police said at least 15 people were killed, including five firefighters, while 81 others were injured.

The fire quickly spread to nearby homes, causing them to collapse, according to Mizzima, a Burmese news organization in exile. Residents in the region told the news organization that the explosions were very loud and woke up many people.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but Myanmar has been hit by a series of bombings in recent years. On November 14, a total of 10 people were killed and 27 others were injured when a bomb exploded at an orphanage in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. Several other bombs exploded in other parts of the city, causing no additional casualties.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-29

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