Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek
Seven people killed

Explosion Sounded at Kyrgyzstan Market

One version is that it was New Year pyrotechnic that ignited spontaneously

Today early an explosion sounded at the local market in the capital of former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, in Bishkek. All buildings and market containers in the radius of 50 meters were destroyed. According to provisional data, seven people were killed by the explosion; twelve were taken to a local hospital with grave wounds and burns.

Right at the accident site, police declared that ignition and explosion of New Year pyrotechnic made in China was a provisional version of the accident. Pyrotechnic made in China flooded all markets and stores of the republic. They are often sold in places poorly equipped with fire-fighting appliances.

Firemen and rescuers from the Ministry for Ecology and Emergency Situations are working at the accident site. The problem is that markets in Kyrgyzstan are usually groups of railway containers scattered confusedly; people can squeeze between them with difficulty. It is impossible to perform immediate evacuation under such conditions. According to unofficial data, there could be thousands of people at the market at that moment when the explosion sounded.

Against the background of a tense political situation in the republic, it was at first suggested that the explosion was an act of terrorism. Second, the explosion could be the result of a continuous conflicts between local salesmen and Chinese dealers, who are very aggressive toward their rivals. Some experts say that the explosion may be the result of a conflict between the salesmen. A governmental commission headed by the first vice-premier of the Kyrgyz government, Kurmanbek Osmonov has already started investigation of the incident and will soon announce the actual reason of the explosion.

 

 

Market fireworks blast kills seven

-- Seven people have been killed and 26 injured after a container of fireworks exploded, detonating a gas tank in a market in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

Workers were welding bars on the windows of a cloakroom for market employees when the fireworks container blew up.  It set off a nearby gas tank.

A National Security Council spokeswoman says the council is considering the possibility that it was a terrorist act.