Kabul, 9 August 2002 (RFE/RL) -- At least 12 people were killed and another 80 were injured in an explosion today at a construction company's offices near the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. A U.S. military spokeswoman, Tina Kroske, said 12 people died in the blast, but several local officials set the death toll at 20. Some of the injured people were students from a nearby university. Officials also said many buildings were damaged in the blast.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The deputy governor of Nangarhar Province, Mohammad Asif Qaimzada, noted that the Afghan Construction and Logistics Unit, where the explosion took place, stored explosive material for its road-construction projects.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The deputy governor of Nangarhar Province, Mohammad Asif Qaimzada, noted that the Afghan Construction and Logistics Unit, where the explosion took place, stored explosive material for its road-construction projects.