2011 Dar es Salaam explosions

{{Infobox News event

|image = Dar es Salaam explosion 2011-02-16.jpg

|caption = As seen from the dorms of UDSM in Ubungo District.

{{Location map | Tanzania

|pushpin_map = Tanzania

|map_caption = Dar es Salaam explosion 2011

|coordinates = {{coord|06|52|35|S|39|08|56|E|region:TZ-02-type:event|display=inline}}}}

|date = 16 February 2011

|time = 8:30 pm EAT (first explosion)

|place = Gongolamboto, Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

|suspects =

|casualties1 = 20–32 dead, 300 injured

|charges =

|convictions =

|notes =

}}

The 2011 Dar es Salaam explosions were a series of store ammunition explosions at an ammunition depot in Gongolamboto ward of Ilala District of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that killed 20–32 people.{{cite web|author=Stephanie Boyd|publisher=One News Page|url=http://www.onenewspage.com/news/Africa/20110217/19745460/Arms-depot-explosion-kills-32-in-Dar-es.htm|date=February 17, 2011|accessdate=February 17, 2011|title=Arms depot explosion kills 32 in Dar es Salaam}} According to officials at the base, the first explosion was at 8:30 pm local time.{{cite web|author=Edward Qorro and Mkinga Mkinga|publisher=The Citizen Reporters|date=February 17, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2011|title=Ill-fated military base out of bounds: TPDF |url=http://thecitizen.co.tz/news/51-other-news/8340-ill-fated-military-base-out-of-bounds-tpdf.html}} Being the second explosion in two years of an ammunition depot near a populated area, several groups questioned the locations of these centers and requested they be moved. Reports indicate that 23 military structures, two homes and a school were destroyed.{{cite web|publisher=Vatican Radio|date=February 17, 2011|accessdate=February 17, 2011|title=Explosion causes mayhem in Tanzania|url=http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=463072|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727195021/http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=463072|archive-date=July 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}

The first of several reported explosions was at around 10 pm local time, and eyewitnesses reported that intermittent explosions occurred during the following hour for two minutes at a time.{{cite web|author=Mwanakijiji|publisher=CNN|date=February 16, 2011|accessdate=February 17, 2011|title=Explosion in army armory in Dar-Tanzania kills many and injure many more|url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-556802?ref=feeds%2Foncnn}} Media reports said that between 20 and 32 people were killed by the blasts and that 300 more were injured as homes were flattened and debris fell from the sky. The deaths were either directly from the explosions or from the effects of high blood pressure.{{cite web|author=Gadiosa Lamtey|publisher=IPP Media|date=February 18, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2011|title=Vulnerable Dar in tears|url=http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=26173}} Debris was reported as far as {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from the base. At least 200 children were reported to be missing their parents as well; it was unknown whether their parents were missing from the explosions or were separated during the evacuation.{{cite web|author=Ali Sultan|publisher=680|work=The Associated Press|title=25 killed in Tanzania blasts after accidental explosion at military base in capital city|url=http://www.680news.com/news/world/article/184960--25-killed-in-tanzania-blasts-after-accidental-explosion-at-military-base-in-capital-city|access-date=2011-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707065458/http://www.680news.com/news/world/article/184960--25-killed-in-tanzania-blasts-after-accidental-explosion-at-military-base-in-capital-city|archive-date=2011-07-07|url-status=dead}}

Immediately following the incident, officials in the city ordered all residents within a {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} radius of the military base to evacuate. An estimated 4,000 residents fled their homes. Residents in the city began calling for the resignation of Defence and National Service minister, Hussein Mwinyi, and the Chief of Defence Forces, General Davis Mwamunyange.{{cite web|author=Lucas Liganga|publisher=The Citizen Chief Reporter|date=February 17, 2011|accessdate=February 17, 2011|title=Fury over bomb blasts |url=http://thecitizen.co.tz/component/content/article/37-tanzania-top-news-story/8344-fury-over-bomb-blasts.html}} On February 17, an investigation was launched to find the cause of the explosions.

The country's main airport, the Julius Nyerere International Airport, was also temporarily shut down.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12490089 |title=Tanzania blasts: At least 20 dead in Dar es Salaam |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=17 February 2011 |website= |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=12 October 2014}} A similar incident occurred in April 2009 at the Mbagala ward of the city.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8024656.stm |title=

Deadly blasts rock Tanzanian city |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=29 April 2009 |website= |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=12 October 2014}}