Seven Yemeni soldiers were killed and 15 others wounded Sunday when a shipment of landmines accidentally exploded in the southern port city of Aden, emergency and health officials said.

The blast occurred as a lorry was unloading the mines in the Jabal Hadid military camp in the centre of Aden, according to the officials.

A health worker at a local hospital confirmed the death toll.

Aden serves as Yemen’s temporary capital since government forces backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition pushed the rebels out of the port city along with four other southern provinces in the summer of 2015.

The capital Sana’a remains under the control of Huthi rebels since they overran it in September 2014.

Jihadists from Al Qaida and the rival Daesh group have exploited the vacuum caused by the conflict between the government and the rebels to strengthen their control in southern and eastern Yemen.

source:  GULF NEWS