Blasts at Maputo armoury shake city

Buildings in the Maputo city centre shook on Thursday afternoon as Mozambique’s national armoury went up in smoke for the second time since 1985, Vista News reported.

Windows were shattered at the University of Eduardo Mondlane’s students’ canteen on Paul S Kankhomba Avenue.

It was not immediately known what had caused the blasts, which continued for more than an hour, and there were no immediate reports of casualties.

In September 1985, 12 people were killed and in January this year three people were seriously injured in armoury blasts. At the time, authorities attributed the blasts to high temperatures.

On Thursday, maximum temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius were recorded in Maputo.

Clouds of smoke could be seen coming out of the armoury, situated in Malhazine Bairro, in a residential area about 1km from the Maputo city centre.

Office workers in the city climbed to the top floors of buildings to get a view of the area where clouds of smoke could be seen.

Army authorities were not immediately available for comment.—Sapa