Five people, including three children, were injured in a flour mill explosion in the municipality of Kuito in Angola’s Bié province, local media reported on Thursday.
According to the head of the demining brigade of the National Demining Centre, Waldemar Cipange, the accident occurred on Wednesday when three minors, while playing in the neighbourhood, found iron objects which they took to their homes to sell on scales made of black material.
“They innocently manipulated the devices, causing an explosion that injured five people. They are all receiving medical treatment at Walter Strangway Hospital and are in stable condition,” Waldemar Cipange was quoted as saying by Angolan news agency Angop.
The official said the device the children were manipulating was two anti-tank mine detonators, noting that ten people were killed in accidents involving explosive devices in 2023.
A week ago, a grenade explosion in Luanda province killed three children and injured six others.
The children found the object in a trash can and took it home, where the explosion occurred.