Warehouse blast kills 17 in Myanmar

An explosion in a gunpowder warehouse in Yangon killed 70 people and injured 80 others.
The incident took place around 2am on Thursday, in an industrial district in the biggest city of Myanmar.
Video obtained from Burma VJ Media - a citizen journalists group-- showed rescuers around burning buildings.
Reuters cannot independently verify the content of the video.
The blast led to a massive fire that spread to nearby buildings, and only contained later in the morning.
Houses and factories were badly damaged and more deaths were expected.
Small fires were also triggered by the explosion, and police said three firemen were among the dead.
The gunpowder being stored in the warehouse was likely for use in mining sites.
A fire department official said the explosion was not linked to sabotage.
The whole area was covered in ash, and people more than a hundred feet away were killed by flying debris.
(SOUNDBITE (Burmese) RESIDENT KO TIN MAUNG HTWE SAYING:
"It's so sad to see all these things. It is far worse than Cyclone Nargis for us."
A resident living a mile away from the warehouse said the blast felt like an asteroid falling to earth.
Michaela Cabrera, Reuters.