A weapons depot caught fire Sunday in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, setting off explosions that killed at least 206 people and pinning countless others underneath collapsed buildings, including a church.
One local hospital reported at least 237 injured in the blasts, according to a FOX news report (http://fxn.ws/xDIK92). More than 2,000 people fled the explosions, which were heard as much as six miles away in the capital of the neighboring country, Congo.
The Associated Press reported that rescuers were endeavoring to prevent fire from reaching a second depot on Monday even as smaller detonations continued to rock Brazzaville.
Fire department are among the first agencies most likely to be called to massive explosions of this nature. For training-related material on firefighter response to explosions and bombing incidents, consider Post-Blast Response to Explosions, Kleen Energy Explosion : Hazmat Response, BOMBS AND BUILDINGS, and Free Firefighter Training: Bombs, Bomb Response, and Suicide Bombers.
Video courtesy the Associated Press.
