Explosion in Tanzania Closes International Airport - Advice and Information

Summary: Following an explosion in the Mbagala district of Dar es Salaam, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) reports that the Julius Nyerere International Airport is closed to air traffic until further notice. However, there are still no travel restrictions in place for Tanzania.

FCO advice for British nationals:

In order to stay safe and to find out the latest information, the FCO advises travellers to:

• Contact their airline to confirm onward travel, as flights are being diverted from Dar es Salaam's main airport
• Monitor local news to find out when the airport is due to re-open
• Be vigilant if you are still in the Dar es Salaam area and avoid any debris caused by the explosion
• Keep an eye on the FCO Tanzania travel advice for updated information
• Contact the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam on 255 (0) 22 229 0000 for further assistance

What is the situation at the Julius Nyerere International Airport?

The chain of explosions forced authorities to shut the country's main airport and the roads surrounding the airport.

There was no major damage to the airport's infrastructure, however, the airport has remained closed since Thursday morning. Flights will be diverted to other airports in the region for the time being.

More about the explosion:

The explosions occurred during the night of Wednesday, 16 February, at the main military arms depot in Dar es Salaam. This depot is located just a few kilometres from the Julius Nyerere International Airport.

The police have set up an evacuation centre at Saba Saba grounds on Kilwa Road, which is attending to people within a 10km radius of the explosion site.

The cause of the explosion is yet to be established. However, Police Force Commander Suleiman Kova of the Dar es Salaam Police Special Zone says, "It seems to be an accident and nothing else".

At least ten people have been reported dead and hundreds more injured.