Somalia bombing death toll 'uncountable'

Vehicles burn at the scene of a massive truck bomb explosion in front of the Safari Hotel in the Somalian capital Mogadishu. (EPA photo) (NOTE: To see this photo in full colour, press the "Switch colour tone" button at the bottom right of your browser window)

MOGADISHU: More than 200 people were killed in near simultaneous bombings in the Somali capital and more than 250 people were injured, officials said on Sunday.

It is the most deadly such attack in the 10-year insurgency waged by the al Shabaab terrorist group.

"We have confirmed 200 civilians died in [Saturday]’s blast. We understand the death toll is higher than that. Many people are still missing their relatives," said Abdifatah Omar Halane, the spokesman for Mogadishu mayor.

"The death toll is uncountable."

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A spokesman for the Aamin Ambulance service said it knew of more than 250 people wounded during the bombings on Saturday.