Munitions cleared from Congo blast site

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, May 18 (UPI) -- A team of civilian technical experts concluded work to remove rubble and munitions in the Republic of Congo following a deadly March explosion, Washington said.

Explosions March 4 at an ammunition depot in Brazzaville, the capital city of the Republic of Congo, left more than 200 people dead and an estimated 1,500 people injured. The blast was felt across the river in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, roughly 3 miles away.

The U.S. State Department said civilian experts helped clear about 20,000 pieces of damaged and unstable munitions from the site. The U.S. team was sent at the request of the Congolese government.

"While the cause of the blasts remains unknown, this tragedy highlights the challenges posed by 'dangerous depots' around the world and the need for national governments to properly maintain, store and safeguard their weapons and munitions inventories," the State Department said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross had said it was having difficulty in delivering medical aid because of the instability of the blast area.

The Republic of Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world.