Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

One killed, 20 wounded in Syrian port explosion | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) – At least one man was killed and more than 20 others were wounded in an explosion caused by a bridge collapse in a cereal silo in the Mediterranean port city of Latakia, a port official said.

The blast occurred after a concrete bridge fell onto electric transformers in the silo, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

One worker was killed instantly and more than 20 others were wounded and rushed to hospital in the city some 348 kilometers (217 miles) northwest of Damascus.

The explosion initially raised fears of a bomb attack. Terrorist attacks are rare in Syria, a tightly controlled country where the regime has used heavy-handed tactics to crack down on Islamic extremism as well as any form of dissent or instability.