E Guinea Begins Official Mourning After Deadly Explosion

Equatorial Guinea has begun three days of national mourning after the deaths of at least 105 people following explosions at a munitions depot on Sunday.

Flags in Equatorial Guinea will fly at half-mast for the next three days.

The US has sent a team of experts to support the search and rescue operations and drugs and medical equipment from Spain are expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday.

The vice-president and son of the president, Teodoro Obiang says it will take at least 10 days to clear rubble as rescuers continue to search for people.

More than 600 people are still in hospital and the death toll is expected to rise.

President Obiang Nguema said the munitions depot had "caught fire due to neighbouring farmers clearing land by setting it alight, leading to the explosion".

The president also blamed the "negligence" of the team responsible for guarding the stores of dynamite and explosives.

He has ordered the government to conduct an investigation.

But questions are being asked about why stockpiles of explosives were being stored in a populated area and Human Rights Watch has asked for an independent investigation.