The death toll from a truck bomb blast in Mogadishu, Somalia has risen to at least 230 people, with hundreds more injured, Abshir Mohamed Ahmed, deputy speaker of Somalia’s upper house of parliament told VOA News on Sunday.
BREAKING: Death toll in Somalia's worst-ever attack rises to 231, senator says; 275 injured.
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 15, 2017
BREAKING: Medina hospital received 218 dead bodies, 130 of them unidentified: Somali MPs
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) October 15, 2017
The explosion, which occurred at around 3:25 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, is reportedly the deadliest attack of its kind ever in Somalia, according to police and hospital sources.
Inaa Lilaahi Wainaa ileyhi raajicuun, ugu yaraan 20 Qof ayaa geeriyootay dad intaas kabadan wey dhaawacmeen Qaraxa ka dhacay #Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/wv6FlV6V9o
— Ismael Mukhtar Omar (@imukhtaar) October 14, 2017
The truck exploded at the Safari Hotel in the busy KM5 area of the city, where many hotels, restaurants, and government offices are located.
Photos from the scene. In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we haven't seen anything like this. pic.twitter.com/cNxeDD86u6
— Aamin Ambulance (@AaminAmbulance) October 15, 2017
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, but many similar attacks have been carried out regional al-Qaeda affiliate Al Shabaab.
The U.S. military has this year increased efforts, including drone strikes, against al-Shabaab. The explosion occurred just two days after the commander of U.S. Africa Command met Somalia’s president in Mogadishu, and two days after the country’s defense minister and army chief resigned.
