Ethiopia national stadium blast last month killed 7 workers

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Witnesses confirm that seven workers died and more than 30 were injured in a gas explosion at Ethiopia’s national stadium construction site last month.

The explosion was not reported until the Addis Standard published interviews with survivors Tuesday. The government has been criticized for not disclosing the Aug. 8 blast.

Employees of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which is building the stadium, declined to comment Wednesday. Government officials could not be reached.

One construction worker tells The Associated Press that seven colleagues died and 32 were injured, 10 of them badly. The worker spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Nurse Woinishet Melaku with the nearby government health centre says she treated four badly burned victims. She says Chinese managers chased away most responding health and security workers.