Congo Arms Depot Explosions: At least 200 killed, hundreds critically injured

BRAZAVILLE, Congo (Mon, Mar. 05) – At least 200 people were killed and scores were wounded yesterday after a series of mysterious blasts in an ammunition depot in Brazzaville, slitting apart a close by area in the Congo Republic's capital, medical and local authorities said.

Congo Arms Depot Explosions: At least 200 killed, hundreds critically injured

According to authorities short circuit might be the most probable cause of the blasts which astounded the riverside capital around 8 am local time, demolishing a lot of houses near the blasts’ spot and sending a trail of smoke high above the city.

A nearby church, crowded with worshippers, also destroyed by the disaster, said one witness.

Dead bodies, many burned or with missing body parts, were shifted to the main city hospital morgue and the official count has already crossed 136, officials said.

Mr Betu Bangana, an adviser in the president's office, told Reuters earlier in the day that around 200 people had been killed before later revising the estimate down to 120.

"Some people are still trapped in their houses. They're saying the entire neighborhood of Mpila has been destroyed."

Panic spread to Kinshasa, 4 km across the Congo River, which separates the former French colony of Congo Republic from the larger Democratic Republic of Congo. The blast was so strong it shattered windows in the neighbouring city.

Both governments called for calm.

Congo Republic Defence Minister Charles Zacharie Bowao quickly dismissed any talk of a coup attempt or mutiny, and told state radio the explosions were the result of a fire in the arms depot at the Regiment Blinde base near the city centre.

Oil-producing Congo Republic has suffered coups and a civil war since independence from France in 1960. However it has remained largely peaceful since President Denis Sassou-Nguesso took power in a coup in 1997.

Presidential adviser Bangana said Mr Sassou-Nguesso had not been injured by the explosions.

At Least 53 Killed in the Crash of Passenger Plane of Hewa Bora Airways in Kisangani (Congo) - - 40 Pulled Out as Rescue Operation Underway

Passenger Plane of Hewa Bora Airways Crashed in Kisangani (Congo) Killed 53

KINSHASA, Congo (July 8) - A passenger plane crashed Friday on its way from Congo's capital, Kinshasa, to a north-eastern city, Kisangani, killing at least 53 out of total 112 passengers and crew members on board.

The crash took place when the captain of the plane was trying to land the plane during heavy rainstorm.

The plane crash at the international airport of Kisangani, a commercial center and river port town, is the latest in a series of crashes that has burdened the vast central African country with one of the worst air safety records in the world.

At least 40 of the survivors have been rescued while the rescue teams are trying to pull out the maximum survivors, a government spokesperson told that the crash had took place about 200 metres from Kisangani airport during landing in heavy rain.

Hewa Bora is on a European Union list of airlines banned due to security concerns, as are all carriers certified in Congo.

Dario Tedesco and Ken Sims Deep into the World's Most Active Volcano ‘Nyiragongo’ - - Amazing Photos by Carsten Peter

GOMA - Two of the world’s leading volcanologists, Dario Tedesco and Ken Sims, did slide down right into the world’s most dangerously active volcano ‘Nyiragongo’ located in the Democratic Republic of Congo just to boost their research and study about volcano’s. 

According to Tadesco; the lack of knowledge about volcano can lead to disastrous outcomes as an eruption could potentially convert the city of one million into "a modern Pompeii."

By their recent research from the heart of the volcano Tadesco and Sims believed to collect data that could help forecast an eruption. Daring photographer Carsten Peter was there to capture unbelievable moments of their journey.

Watch here more stunning photos of the Nyiragongo.