Two killed, 24 wounded in Syrian port explosion

At least two men were killed and more than 20 wounded by an explosion inside a wheat silo caused by an elevated walkway's collapse in the Syrian port city of Latakia, port and hospital officials said.

The blast occurred after a steel walkway reinforced with concrete fell onto electric transformers in the silo, a Latakia port official said.

The explosion, which caused a two-story structure inside the silo to collapse, initially raised fears of a bomb attack, but this was later ruled out.

Three hundred civil defense members, firefighters and police personnel joined in efforts to rescue people trapped under the rubble.

Two workers were killed and 24 wounded and rushed to hospital in the Mediterranean city about 350 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Damascus, a hospital official said. Four workers were in critical conditions after suffering severe burns.

The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity as they were unauthorized to speak to the media.

Antar Farman, the head of Syrian silos, suggested no foul play was involved in the blast, Syria's official news agency SANA reported. A civil defense official at the port also said the explosion was not "premeditated.", AP reported. V.A.

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