Two officials killed by unexploded ordnance at rubbish dump in Hasawna

Tripoli, 18 November:

Two people have been killed by an explosion at a rubbish dump in the Hasawna area of southwest Libya.

The blast took place after the men, who worked in the Manmade River Project’s Industrial Safety and Security Department, came into contact with unexploded ordnance on the site.

According to the Manmade River project’s director of public affairs, Tawfiq Shuwaihdi, Saeed Elmesallati and Mehdi Saleh Khamis had gone to inspect the site, located in the Southern Region System of Hasawna, on Saturday morning and discovered the remnants of two rockets nearby. The men chose to handle the ordnance, which resulted in the fatal explosion.

The funerals of both men will be held this afternoon. Elmesallati will be buried in his town of Emsalata, whilst Khamis will be laid to rest in Traghin.

Shuwaihdi said that responsibility for the incident lay with negligent officials who have failed to have these areas checked and cleared of unexploded ordnance, despite appeals for them to do so.

Hasawna is home to a major and poorly maintained arms dump, with much of the weaponry dating back to the Qaddafi era. It is also where the largest plant of the Manmade River is located.

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