Huge explosions rock Equatorial Guinea's main city

At least 15 people have died and hundreds more have been injured in a series of explosions in Equatorial Guinea, the health ministry says.

Some 500 people were injured following the blasts, which happened near a military barracks in the main city of Bata on Sunday.

The blasts were caused by "negligence" relating to the storage of dynamite at the barracks, the president said.

Images on social media showed huge plumes of smoke and widespread damage.

State television showed people looking for survivors in the rubble and lifting up debris from collapsed buildings.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema said in a statement that the impact of the explosion "caused damage in almost all the houses and buildings in Bata", and called for international help with aid.

He added that the incident may have occurred following the burning of fields surrounding the barracks by farmers.

In a series of tweets, the health ministry asked for volunteer health workers to go to Bata Regional Hospital. It has also asked for blood donations due to the high number of casualties.