DATE=8/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236725
TITLE=KENYA BLAST UPDATE CQ (L/S)
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AT LEAST 66 PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND MORE THAN A THOUSAND
WOUNDED IN THE BOMB BLASTS THAT OCCURRED NEAR U-S EMBASSIES IN
NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM. IN NAIROBI, WHICH SUFFERED THE
GREATEST CASUALTIES, THE REPORTED DEATH TOLL STANDS AT ABOUT 60,
BUT THAT FIGURE MAY RISE AS RESCUERS SEARCH THROUGH THE RUBBLE OF
COLLAPSED BUILDINGS. KENYAN PRESIDENT, DANIEL ARAP MOI
CONDEMNED THE ACTION AND DECLARED SATURDAY AN OFFICIAL DAY OF
MOURNING. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM OUR NAIROBI BUREAU.
TEXT: THE BOMB LEFT DOWNTOWN NAIROBI LOOKING LIKE A WAR ZONE.
THE EXPLOSION BLEW OUT WINDOWS AND MANGLED IRON SUPPORT BEAMS OF
BOTH THE COOPERATIVE BANK BUILDING AND THE AMERICAN EMBASSY.
//OPT// WORKERS STANDING ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN OF DEBRIS -- AS
HIGH AS THREE STORIES -- DIRECT THOSE ON THE GROUND, WHILE
CRANES, BULLDOZERS AND WINCHES HUM THROUGH THE NIGHT. A FEW
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT ALIVE, BUT HOPE DIMINISHES AS TIME
GOES ON. EVERYWHERE ON THE GROUND IS A MIXTURE OF CRUSHED GLASS
AND BLOOD. MANGLED, SMOLDERING SHELLS OF CARS ARE EVERYWHERE.
//END OPT//
NAIROBI'S HOSPITALS ARE FILLED FAR BEYOND CAPACITY. NAIROBI
HOSPITAL, THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE BLAST, TOOK IN 400 VICTIMS,
THOUGH IT HAS CAPACITY FOR ONLY 150. //OPT// ALL OFF-DUTY
MEDICAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. THE
RED CROSS CALLED FOR BLOOD DONATIONS. AND PEOPLE LINED UP
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. //END OPT//
//OPT// OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE ANXIOUSLY
SCANNED THE LISTS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED. RELATIVES WERE ONLY
ALLOWED ENTRY INTO THE HOSPITAL IF THE STAFF NEEDED HELP IN
IDENTIFYING A PATIENT.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WAITING AT THE HOSPITAL HAD THEMSELVES BEEN
INJURED. WEARING BLOOD SOAKED CLOTHES, AND DAZED, SHELL-SHOCKED
EXPRESSIONS, THEY WAITED FOR WORD OF THEIR FELLOW VICTIMS. //END
OPT//
OTIENO OSUR, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR THE POLICE, SAYS THE BOMB
WAS DEFINITELY AN ACT OF TERRORISM. SO FAR NO GROUP HAS
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR EITHER THE EXPLOSION IN NAIROBI OR THE
SIMILAR ONE THAT HIT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN DAR ES SALAAM,
TANZANIA. THE TWO BLASTS OCCURRED AT AROUND THE SAME TIME.
(SIGNED)
NEB/CP/PCF/KL
07-Aug-98 2:43 PM EDT (1843 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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