Tirana: At least nine people were killed in the serial blasts at an army depot housing communist-era munitions near the Albanian capital Tirana, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said today.

"Three more victims were found at the site of the blast, while one young woman was found in the rubble of her house," Berisha told reporters a day after the explosions. Officials gave a toll of five victims yesterday.

"Rescue workers continue their search for possible victims," Berisha said, adding that "at least a dozen people are reported missing."

"We are verifying employees registers who were at the site in time of blast," Berisha said. Military experts were disposing of shells at the time of the first blast yesterday, assisted by employees of a US company contracted by NATO to help the Albanian army get rid of surplus munitions dating from the communist era.

Approximately 121 people were in the depot at the time of the explosion, Berisha said yesterday, adding that many of them could have found refuge between the two first blasts. More than one hundred injured -- among them nine seriously -- are hospitalised in Tirana and the nearby town of Durres. A total of 243 people have so far been registered as injured.

"At least 17 of those seriously injured have and will be transferred to Italy and Grece by planes," said Berisha, expressing his gratitude to the countries which have offered its assistance to Tirana. Berisha also said that "material damage has also been significant."

Source : PTI