MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Explosions emanating from a fire that broke out at a base housing African Union peacekeepers in south Somalia were heard inside a weapons depot near the town of Bal’ad, some 30km north of the capital Mogadishu, Caasimada Online news website reported on Wednesday.
Residents in the town of Hanshikh, north of Bal’ad heard the crack of gunfire and explosions in what was initially thought to be an Al-Shabaab attack.
A fire said to have been caused by an electrical fault broke out inside the camp, many of whose buildings were consumed by flame before the inferno has gut a weapons depot, sending a column of black smoke to the sky.
The blasts triggered fear among the residents in the town of Hanshikh, where the AMISOM base that had caught fire is located.
Troops have managed to bring the fire under control after hours-long efforts, but casualties have not been immediately known. African Union peacekeepers have not yet commented on the incident.
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