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Mozambique explosion kills over 72

MAPUTO, Mozambique, March 23 (UPI) -- An explosion and subsequent fire at a weapons depot in Mozambique killed over 72 people, media reports said Friday.

According to Health Minister Ivo Garrido, at least 300 people have also been injured from the blast late Thursday at the national depot. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.

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Radio Mozambique reported that about 20 tons of military equipment had been housed in the building, and the explosion led mortar bombs and rockets to crash into the neighboring residential area. The number of casualties is expected to rise as a result.

President Armando Guebuza has cancelled a visit to South Africa as a result of the disaster, while the capital's airport has been closed, given its proximity to the depot.

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