Explosive hailstorm

Nov 21 2007

The season's first hailstorm was a blessing in disguise for cluster bomb-infested parts of southern Lebanon - setting off a series of blasts from previously unexploded bomblets.

After a long dry spell across Lebanon, hailstones as big as walnuts hit the south's villages and struck undiscovered bomblets scattered across the landscape, causing a string of blasts.

Dalya Farran, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC) confirmed that "many cluster bombs" exploded when they were hit by hailstones in villages near the town of Marjayoun.

No injuries were reported in the explosions.