Large Explosion Rocks Weapons Depot Outside Mozambique Capital

Thursday, March 22nd 2007, 12:01 pm

By: News On 6

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) _ Fire and explosions rocked a weapons depot near Maputo airport Thursday, sending thousands of people streaming from their homes in panic and thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, witnesses said.

Police sealed off the area and ambulances rushed to the site. There was no immediate report of casualties.

An Associated Press reporter said explosions could be heard throughout the capital two hours after the fire began in the Magoanine district, about three miles from the airport.

The depot was used to store old weapons and ammunition, some of it from Mozambique's long civil war.