Explosion Leaves Girl With Burns [PHOTO]

A 16-year-old girl was severely burnt in an explosion at her residence at Anaji-Old Brigade, an abandoned military barracks. Zalia Ayaba was said to have set pieces of paper on fire on the compound when the explosion, believed to have been caused by abandoned and buried explosives, occurred.She was thrown off her feet with hot sand covering her body. Abandoned military site The area is said to have been used as a military barracks during the colonial days but was abandoned later. When the army relocated from Anaji-Old Brigade to its present location at Apremdo due to civilian intrusion,the area was sold to the public by those who claimed ownership of the land. When the Daily Graphic visited the residence of the Ayaba family, Ayaba was in her bed at home nursing the burns which affected her face, arms, feet, her back and also left small burnt spots all over her body. An elder sister of the victim, Ms Merinda Ayaba, said the victim was rushed to the hospital where they were advised to report the incident to the police for investigation. She, however, said the family was yet to officially report the incident to the police but had informed the military command of the Second Battalion of Infantry (2BN), Myohaung Barracks at Apremdo. Military officers, she said, had since visited the family and interviewed some residents. Unreported explosions Residents said there had been several unreported explosions in the area, with some claiming that during the construction of their house, they came across some metal containers and other stuff that were buried but had to build on them because they could not bring them out.