Toll from explosion at munitions depot near Cape Town rises to 8 – S. Africa official

The death toll from an explosion at a South African munitions depot in Somerset West, near Cape Town, has risen to eight, Reuters reported, citing Theo Layne, a fire and rescue spokesman. The cause of the blast is not known, he said on Monday. Earlier reports said four people were killed in the explosion. The Rheinmetall Denel Munition depot is a joint venture between Germany’s Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH and South Africa’s state-owned arms maker Denel. Police have not yet issued a comment on the cause of the explosion.