At Least 3 Killed in Afghan Ordnance Disposal Accident

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2002 – At least three U.S. service members died in an accident near Kandahar, Afghanistan, DoD officials said.

Officials said at least three members of an explosive ordnance disposal team were killed and others injured April 15 at 11:30 a.m., local Afghan time, when a 107 mm rocket detonated. DoD officials said they have little information on the blast and indicated the number of dead may rise. The names of those killed and injured are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

"It points out what we've been saying since this started: That Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place," said Marine Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, a DoD spokesman.