Explosions in Congo-Brazzaville
Read about explosions in Congo-Brazzaville.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands injured in a series of explosions in Congo-Brazzaville. Congolese officials say the explosions were caused by a fire in an arms depot on Sunday March 4th. Small detonations continued to shake the capital of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville, for a second day on Monday. The series of explosions were so violent that they flattened houses, businesses and churches, killing hundreds and trapping countless others under the falling debris. The blast blew out windows in neighboring Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The number of dead and injured is expected to increase as rescuers clear the debris around churches and other places where large numbers of people were gathered.
A member from Global Ministries partner church, the Church of the Disciples of Christ in Congo, reports that many homes haves been destroyed and several members are now homeless. He writes, “Around 9:00 am (Sunday morning, March 4th), a serious catastrophe occurred. I live approximately 75 meters (approximately 225 feet) from army Camp Blende. At this very moment, I am outside because the house has been completed flattened. All of the surrounding houses have been flattened. More than 200 have died and not less than 1,000 have been injured and this is only the preliminary report. Please ask our friends there to pray with us.”
Additional information can be found at http://allafrica.com/view/resource/main/main/id/00030814.html
An appeal will be made to assist Global Ministries partners in their response to this tragic event with specifics. Gifts are welcome to support this effort.