International

Up to 197 identified bodied will be buried today after hundreds of people were reportedly killed in Sunday’s serial explosions in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, the Central African country’s crisis committee has said.

The committee made the announcement on Wednesday night after a meeting with relatives of the victims. During the meeting, the two sides reached agreement on the payment and the arrangements for the burial, at an average 40,000 FCFA (80 U. S. dollars) for children and 250,000 FCFA (500 dollars) for adults. Some parents at the meeting, which was held after rescuers combed the areas hit by the blasts from an arms depot in the district of Mpila, expressed hope that the bodies would be buried elsewhere in a public cemetery.

The tragedy has sparked great sympathy and support from the world.

Beninese President Yayi Boni arrived in Brazzaville on Wednesday for a 24-hour official visit to show solidarity with the Congolese people.

On the same day, Chinese enterprises in the Central African countries handed over the relief to officials in charge of social and humanitarian affairs, including 3,000 bottles of water, 2,500 loaves of bread, 300 clothes and some blankets.

According to the Chinese Embassy, six Chinese workers were also killed on the construction site when the explosions occurred. In the country’s another major city Pointe Noire, a march of silence was organized on Thursday for people to pay homage to the bereaved in the catastrophe.