ALGERIA: AFTERMATH OF SHIPPING DISASTER

Record ID: 574521

  • Title: ALGERIA: AFTERMATH OF SHIPPING DISASTER
  • Date: 26th July 1964
  • Summary: 1. LV DOCKYARD 0.05 2. V FIRE ENGINES 0.08 3. LVS WRECKED WAREHOUSES AND BUILDINGS (2 SHOTS) 0.16 4. GV TWO CARS UNDER WRECKAGE 0.20 5. LV WRECKED WAREHOUSE 0.24 6. SV DITTO 0.29 7. GV PAN. WRECKED BRIDGE 0.32 8. GV & LV HOUSE WITH WRECKED ROOF 0.40 9. LV WRECKED WINDOWS OF FLAT 300 YARDS FROM QUAYSIDE 0.44 10. SCU SHELLS 0.48 11. GV BOW OF ALEXANDRIA APPROX. 1/2 MILE AWAY FROM QUAYSIDE 0.52 12. CU PARTS OF ALEXANDRIA (2 SHOTS) 1.01 13. LV PEOPLE SWEEP DEBRIS 1.06 14. GVS WRECKED BUILDING (2 SHOTS) 1.14 15. LV HARBOUR AREA 1.18 Initials JNT/S/MGT/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th August 1964 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BONE, ALGERIA
  • Country: Algeria
  • Reuters ID: LVA6UMLXDY9I4QM1Q0EFNFPQY07V
  • Story Text: AN EGYPTIAN FREIGHTER WAS BLOWN APART BY AN EXPLOSION IN BONE HARBOUR, EASTERN ALGERIA LATE LAST WEEK KILLING AT LEAST 85 PEOPLE AND INJURING SCORES.

    CONFLICTING REPORTS IN THE DAYS AFTER THE DISASTER PUT THE DEATH ROLL AS HIGH AS 200.

    THE FREIGHTER, AN ARMS CARRYING VESSEL NAMED "STAR OF ALEXANDRIA", HAD BEEN UNLOADING MUNITIONS FOR TWO DAYS WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. ONE SEMI-OFFICIAL REPORT SAID THE MUNITIONS BEING UNLOADED WHEN THE BLAST OCCURRED WERE PART OF OLD STOCKS KEPT BY THE ALGERIAN LIBERATION ARMY IN LIBYA DURING THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.

    THE EXPLOSION LATE IN THE EVENING ROCKED THE WHOLE TOWN. THE SOUND OF BUILDINGS COLLAPSING COULD BE HEARD FROM THE PORT AND THE OLD QUARTER OF THE TOWN AND DAMAGE TO THE HARBOUR AREA WAS PROVISIONALLY ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL MILLION POUNDS.

    IN ALGIERS CAME ACCUSATION THAT THE EXPLOSIONS WAS THE "WORK OF THE EXTERNAL COUNTER-REVOLUTION". A TEAM OF EGYPTIAN EXPERTS HEADED BY THE MILITARY ATTACHE AT THE U.A.R. EMBASSY IN ALGERIA ARE IN BONE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF THE EXPLOSION.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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