A substantial explosion, followed by a raging inferno, took place at the Guinean Petroleum Company fuel depot in Conakry on Monday, causing considerable damage and injuries..
The incident took place in the heart of the Kaloum administrative district, which houses most of the government offices, raising fears of a major supply disruption.
Although the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, local media reports suggest that dozens of people were hurt, with most of them hospitalized with serious injuries. While the officials have not confirmed any casualty figures, news agency France Press puts the provisional death toll at 8.
The disaster has prompted the closure of schools and public places in the area, and residents have fled due to the thick smoke.
The civil protection service, emergency services, and medical and safety teams are working to control the fire and provide essential services.
Guinea’s interim president, Mamadi Doubouya, has urged the people to show solidarity and pray, while the security minister, Bachir Diallo, has assured that hard trials await those responsible for the tragedy.
The government has also sought help from other nations, including Senegal and Mali, to tackle the crisis.
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