Expert attributes explosions to `old` bombs
2009-04-30 12:52:08
By Correspondent Sabato Kasika
Retired engineer and explosives expert Nebetus Nyamuga has said that the accidental blasts which occurred yesterday at a military base on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam were caused by dangerous trail bombs used in shooting down aircraft.
``These are most dangerous arms which are used to blow up speeding aircraft,`` Nyamuga said in an interview with `The Guardian`.
``These kinds of bombs do explode 15 years after their manufacture and some do explode earlier if they are not properly stored,`` he added.
According to the expert, trail bombs can only be safely destroyed in a place far from the armoury.
When asked about the standard safe distance between residential areas and military barracks, the expert explained: ``Residential houses should ideally be located five kilometres from an army base.``
He said what happened at Mbagala yesterday was caused by greedy and corrupt land officials who alloted residential plots near a military base.
``This is the second incident after a similar one which happened at Gongolamboto a few years ago. At that time we advised the government to move all the people far from the military base, but nothing has been done up to now,`` he said.
Nyamuga said, alternatively the government had to move the military base from residential areas.
He urged land officers not to survey residential plots near military barracks or bases to avert such occurrences.
Yesterday morning bomb blasts killed at least two people, leaving hundreds others injured, in Dar es Salaam.
Special Zone police commander Selemani Kova ruled out any foul play in the incident, which also damaged a number of houses.
``We urge people not to go to the scene of the explosives. It is very dangerous,`` said Kova, adding: ``Right now we are trying to rescue people who have been injured.``
Witnesses said they saw several seriously wounded people lying on the ground. Local television footage showed a cloud of thick smoke over the base.