Two explosions struck a passenger vehicle travelling from Mogadishu to Baidoa and a motorcycle in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, killing at least three people and leaving others feared dead or injured.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — At least three people were killed in two separate explosions targeting a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on Wednesday, local sources said, with several other people feared dead or wounded.
The first blast struck a passenger vehicle travelling from the capital Mogadishu towards Baidoa, the administrative capital of Bay region, between the settlements of Waraaboole and Doonka, according to residents.
A local resident who spoke to Shabelle TV said the explosion destroyed the vehicle and caused heavy casualties among those on board.
Only the driver and a woman passenger were reported to have survived the blast, while the remaining passengers were killed or injured, the resident said. The exact number of people travelling in the vehicle was not immediately clear.
"The dead cannot be counted. People were packed inside the vehicle, and only a woman and the driver reportedly survived. The others were killed or injured," the resident said, describing the scale of the destruction.
The number of casualties from the first explosion could not be independently confirmed, and there was no immediate official statement providing a definitive death toll.
A second explosion struck a Fekon motorcycle travelling towards the town of Afgoye, also in Lower Shabelle, according to local sources.
Three people were riding on the motorcycle, including the driver, and all three died at the scene, the sources said.
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Security forces and civilians arrived at the locations following the explosions to assist the victims. The situation in the affected areas was later reported to be calm.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts, and it was not clear whether the two explosions were coordinated.
Lower Shabelle, a region southwest of Mogadishu, has witnessed repeated attacks by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group fighting Somalia's federal government and international forces supporting it.
Somali government troops frequently conduct operations in the region, where major roads connect Mogadishu with towns and cities in southern Somalia. The routes are strategically important for civilian travel, trade and military movements.
Al-Shabaab has regularly targeted government forces and troops serving with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), including through roadside bombs and other attacks.
The latest explosions highlight the continuing security risks facing civilians travelling along major roads in southern Somalia, where roadside attacks have disrupted transport and threatened communities.
Authorities had not released a comprehensive casualty report or announced any arrests in connection with Wednesday's blasts at the time of reporting.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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