Explosions at Tanzanian military arms depots in the economic capital Dar es Salaam killed at least 17 people, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said Thursday.

The blasts went off inside the Gombo la Mboto army base in Dar es Salaam late Wednesday and destroyed several arms and ammunition depots.

"By this morning, there were 13 bodies at Amana hospital, two at Temeke hospital and two more at Muhimbili national hospital," the prime minister told parliament in a session aired live on state radio.