6 Chinese killed, 1 missing in Congo blast

BRAZZAVILLE - Six Chinese were killed and one was missing after Sunday's ammunition depot explosions in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, according to the Chinese embassy here on Sunday night.

The victims belonged to the Beijing Construction Engineering Group in the Central African country, where about 140 Chinese workers of the group were at the construction site when the blasts went off.

A plume of smoke rises from across the river in neighbouring Republic of Congo's capital Brazzaville, as seen above the skyline of Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa March 4, 2012. Around 200 people were killed on Sunday when an arms dump exploded in Brazzaville, capital of the Congo Republic, a senior official in the presidency said, citing hospital sources. [Photo/Agencies]

The blast also left dozens of Chinese workers injured, some in serious condition, an official with the Chinese embassy said.

At least three powerful blasts rocked the city at 8 am local time (0700 GMT), destroying an ammunition depot between the districts of Mpila and Talangai.