Blast at Yemen explosives factory expired 78

SANAA, Yemen: A powerful explosion at a factory manufacturing explosives and weapons in southern Yemen has expired at least 78 people Monday after the installation was briefly taken over by Islamic militants and then looted by residents the region, officials said.

Many women and children from surrounding villages were killed in the blast, which left some bodies blackened and burned, according to medical officials and security in the province of Abyan. The explosion appears to be accidental, but there was no word on the exact cause.

On Sunday, militants took over the plant and near the town of Jaar, taking advantage of the deteriorating security situation in the country as an unprecedented wave of anti-government protests threatening the president who ruled the country's poorest and divided for 32 years.

The fighters took what they wanted and left. Later, the residents entered the facility to loot, "said resident Mohammed Walid Muqbil. The plant manufactures ammunition, weapons, Kalashnikovs and explosives used in the construction of roads in the mountainous region.

Among the injured, 27 people were in critical condition. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The factory was seized Sunday by one of several militant groups roaming hinterland largely lawless Yemen called Salafi Jihad.

Officials at al-Razi hospital in Jaar confirmed that dozens of victims were transported to hospital and some very serious cases were sent to a hospital in the nearby port city of Aden.