Yemen ammo blast toll shoots up to 150 dead

ADEN, March 29: The death toll of a massive blast and fire at an ammunition plant in south Yemen that was looted by Al-Qaeda has shot up to 150, a local official said on Tuesday.



The final toll for Monday´s explosion at the plant near the town of Jaar has reached "150 dead and at least 80 wounded," Ahmed Ghaleb Rahawi, sub-prefect of Jaar in the southern province of Abyan where the blast took place, told AFP.[break]



"When the residents entered the plant, there were some workers there who... did not warn them of the dangers," said Rahawi.



"The flames spread out over 500 metres (yards)," he added, warning local residents that the situation was still unstable and other weapons stores could also explode.



Another local government official, Mohsen Salem, said the death toll of 150 was based on the number of bodies recovered and on people reported as missing.



"Ninety-five bodies have been identified while many others were burnt" beyond recognition, Salem said, adding that the casualties were from five nearby villages.



Officials have said explosions and a huge fire engulfed the factory as the villagers were inside helping themselves to remaining ammunition and guns left behind after a raid on the plant by suspected Al-Qaeda fighters on Sunday.

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