A senior police officer in Guinea has stated that at least eight people have been killed and 84 injured due to an explosion at an oil terminal in the capital, Conakry, in the early hours of Monday.
The officer added that the number of casualties is preliminary, noting that the fire has been contained, as reported by Reuters news agency.
The government of Guinea announced the closure of schools today (Monday) and urged workers to stay in their homes, hours after a fire broke out in the country’s largest fuel depot in Conakry, resulting in dozens of injuries, according to a medical source.
In a statement, the government said, “Public and private sector workers are asked to stay in their homes,” and that “public and private schools will be closed.”
The statement indicated that fuel stations would remain closed, and that “a preliminary toll will be issued in the coming hours, and an investigation will be conducted to determine the causes and responsibilities.”
The government explained in the statement that the “unknown source” fire broke out during the night, pointing out that “its scope and consequences could directly affect residents.”
The explosion occurred around midnight at the main fuel depot of the Guinean National Oil Company in Kaloum, the administrative and business district of Conakry.
A senior police officer in Guinea had previously stated to the Reuters news agency that there were fears of many casualties following an explosion at an oil facility in the capital, Conakry, in the early hours of Monday.
He added, “Yes, there are deaths and injuries,” noting that they are still counting the victims.
The explosion shook the Kaloum area in central Conakry, causing windows of several adjacent homes to shatter and prompting hundreds to flee the area.
Viewers posted video footage of the massive explosion on social media.
Footage showed smoke and flames rising into the sky during the night, while fire trucks rushed to the scene, and fuel trucks quickly left the depot with soldiers and police.
