TIRANA, March 25 – Albanian authorities said three women injured during the Gerdec explosion had died at an Italian hospital, raising the death toll from the March 15 disaster at an ammunition disposal factory to 24.
The three injured women died during the last three days at the Italian hospital in Brindisi, according to spokeswoman Juela Mecani, adding two others Albanians were in very serious condition also.
Army engineering officers, assisted by six U.N. experts, continue to comb the wreckage of the factory and disposing artillery shells that exploded March 15. The military said they are continuing to look for the remains of one additional person.
The blast near the capital, Tirana, injured more than 300 people, destroyed 412 homes, damaged 3,800 others and scattered artillery shells over some 15 square miles (40 square kilometers).
The government estimated the total damage cost at 1.6 billion leks (US $20.5 million; or 13.2 million).
The government has said the blast was accidentally triggered during work to dispose of surplus Communist-era ammunition. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of negligence.
Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu resigned following the blasts and he has been questioned by investigators along with top army generals.
Prosecutor excluded from investigating team
TIRANA, March 25 – The Prosecutor General’s office has reported that prosecutor Genti Xholi was not part of the investigating team of the explosion in Gerdec, according to a statement.
The local media has raised concerns about potential conflicts because Xholi had been employed from 1997-1999 at the Meiko company of the Defense Ministry.
The statement said that Xholi was involved only during the initial investigation and was no longer part of the investigative team.
