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Albania army depot blast injures at least 155, damages airport HEKTOR PUSTINAAssociated Press Writer Released : Saturday, March 15, 2008 9:33 AM GERDEC, Albania-A powerful explosion at an army depot near Tirana Saturday injured more than 150 people, including many children, and damaged the city's nearby international airport, authorities said. The blast set off ammunition stored at the army depot, and explosions were continuing for at least two hours. The explosion prompted authorities to suspend flights for at least 30 minutes at Mother Teresa Tirana International Airport. Health Minister Nard Ndoka said at least 155 people, including many children, had suffered injuries. Police spokesman Klodian Branko said no fatalities had been confirmed. The depot, which is used as a location to destroy excess ammunition, is at Gerdec village, some 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the capital Tirana. The blast was heard more than 50 kilometers (30 miles) away, and people fled from nearby villages. Prime Minister Sali Berisha described the situation as "serious", adding that the area near the depot was being evacuated, his spokeswoman Juela Mecani said. "It is an alarming situation," Mecani told The Associated Press. President Bamir Topi, speaking on Albanian television, called for calm in order to avoid "panic and chaos." Police said that the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but that it was not believed to have been caused by a bombing. Albin Mecaj, 22, who works at the depot, told the AP by telephone that about 80 people had been working on destroying ammunition at the time of the explosion. Mecaj, who was badly burned in the blast, said that usually about 120 people are working there. Houses more than one kilometer (one mile) away were damaged by the blast, an AP photographer at the scene said. The nearby area had no power supply following the explosion, while police shut down the highway between Tirana and the seaside town of Durres, 33 kilometers (20 miles) west of Tirana.
