17 Dead, 108 Injured in Rangoon Blaze

A fire followed by several explosions engulfed warehouses and neighboring homes in Rangoon on Thursday, killing at least 17 people and injuring 108. The blasts occurred as firefighters were putting out the fire that had started in a state-owned warehouse before spreading to other warehouses and nearby homes and buildings before dawn. Six of the dead were firefighters, a home ministry source said. He added the fire and blasts destroyed 16 warehouses, a Buddhist monastery and 76 homes in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township in eastern Rangoon.—AP