Eight Killed in Rheinmetall-Denel’s South African Plant Explosion

Eight people were killed Monday in an explosion at a Rheinmetall-Denel munitions factory near Cape Town in South Africa.

The blast was reported by local residents near the Rheinmetall-Denel plant in Somerset West when it erupted at 3:45 pm local time.

"Eight persons were confirmed as fatalities and the fire department is assisting the search and rescue operations," J.P. Smith, Cape Town council's safety chief, told news agency AFP.

"An explosion occurred at one of the buildings of Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM). At this stage we are unable to confirm if there are any injuries or fatalities," the company said in a statement adding that the cause of the incident was under investigation.

The joint German-South Africa company makes munitions for the South African military and police and international clients. RDM is 51 percent owned by Rheinmetall Defence in Germany and 49 percent by South Africa's Denel.