Heavy toll after explosion at sugar factory in Tanzania

At least eleven people have been killed and two others injured after the explosion of a sugar factory in Tanzania’s eastern district of Mvomero, local media reported, citing authorities.

The explosion occurred at about 01:00 local time on Thursday [23:00 GMT Wednesday] at a factory run by Mtibwa Sugar Estates Limited, one of Tanzania’s main sugar manufacturers.

According to the fire and rescue team, “the blast happened after a heavy duty steam pipe burst as workers were starting production on Wednesday night”.

As well as Tanzanians, citizens of Brazil, India, China and Kenya are among the dead, officials say.

All the deceased were electrical and machine staff who were working in the control room at the time, reports said.

Following the blast, Mtibwa Sugar Company has suspended all production activities in the factory, one of the biggest in the country.

Alex Mkama, the regional police commander, said that his team was investigating the cause of the incident.