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Authorities rule out terrorism in blasts at two Cartagena shipyards

Colombian authorities say they are treating explosions at two different Cartagena shipyards which left seven people dead and 23 wounded as accidents, according to AFP.

A fire department spokesman said there were three explosions in all – one at Cotecmar Mamonal naval yard and two at Astivik, a commercial repair yard. All fires were extinguished.

Police say they are not treating the incidents as terrorist-related nor connected to each other as bomb squad experts determined no explosive devices were involved.

The Cartagena fire chief said his investigators believe an accumulation of flammable gases on barges led to two of the blasts.

Authorities did not clarify how many fatalities happened at each site, which are two miles apart. There was a 30-minute gap between the explosions.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.
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