Off the wire
• ZTE to continue to work with U.S. after sanction lifted  • EU countries' investment rises in Myanmar in 2015-16 FY  • Air pollution top public environmental complaint in China  • China-Botswana ties excellent, mutually beneficial: foreign minister  • Danish politicians express sympathy to Belgium blasts victims  • Some 2,000 new graduates join Afghan national army  • Ghana's total debt stands at 25.6 bln USD: central bank  • Interview: China capable of overcoming economic challenges: Russian economist  • Ghana's central bank maintains 26 pct benchmark policy rate  • Vietnamese PM admits increasing public debt, payment pressure  
You are here: 　 Home

4th LD Writethru: At least 13 killed at Brussels explosions, casualties expected to rise

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 13 people were reportedly killed and 35 were wounded after series of explosions at Brussels airport and a metro station close to the European Union institutions on Tuesday morning.

"According to an initial assessment provided by the federal prosecutor, there would be at least 13 dead and 35 wounded," Belgium's RTBF reported.

The threat level has been raised to the highest level 4 from the previous level 3.

Due to confusing information on the incidents, casualties are expected to rise further.

Two explosions were heard shortly before 8 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). The airport's departure hall was damaged heavily, one witness told Xinhua.

The explosion at Brussels airport was a suicide attack, officials confirmed.

Another explosion was later reported at Maelbeek metro station which is within hundred meters from the European Union complex.

A witness told Xinhua the metro train she boarded stopped halfway while heading from Arts-Loi to Maelbeek.

She said there was a strong smell of burnt metal and people have to get out of the train and walk on the track towards Arts-Loi to get out. Outside, police vehicles were "everywhere," she said.

The witness told Xinhua she saw a body on the ground with a cover while walking past the Maelbeek station.

All metro, tram and bus services have been shut down, the city's public transport operator STIB announced. Emergency services are in attendance, and no flights are currently landing or taking off.

Metro station staffs told Xinhua that passengers were being evacuated and people were warned not to close to metro stations.

Areas around Maelbeek and Schuman, which is Maelbeek's adjacent station and at the core of the EU institutions, were locked down. Fire trucks and heavy police presence were observed at the spot.

"Due to two explosions at Brussels Airport this morning, March 22, the airport is closed until further notice," Brussels airlines announced at its official website.

One airport worker told Flemish public broadcaster VRT "I was on my break and heard and felt a huge explosion. We can see the departures hall from here, and I saw a plume of smoke rising up. The windows are completely shattered. People are walking around in shock." Endit