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.
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.
The truck exploded at the Safari Hotel in the busy KM5 area of the city, where many hotels, restaurants, and government offices are located.
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.