By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least eight persons were on Monday killed following a devastating explosion at an oil terminal in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, a senior police officer confirmed.
The incident also injured over 80 persons, causing a chaos in the Kaloum administrative district, with emergency responders making efforts to put the blazing fire under control.
The blast at the early hours of Monday, shortly after midnight at the nation’s primary oil terminal, sent shockwaves across cities in the non-oil producing nation, shattering windows of nearby residences.
According to a Reuters report, hundreds of persons have been evacuated following the incident.
Several tanker trucks departed the depot, escorted by soldiers and police.
Guinea does not produce oil, nor has the capacity to refine oil.
It however depends on imported refined products stored mainly in the Kaloum terminal, which are subsequently distributed across the nation via trucks.
The extent of damage to the terminal remains uncertain as firefighters were dealing with the raging inferno.
Guinea hosts a small oil depot in Kamsar, located north of Conakry, primarily utilised by mining corporations.
The government, through a statement, expressed profound concern over the tragic event, acknowledging its potential impact on the populace.
An official investigation is set to be initiated to ascertain the cause of the explosion and identify any accountable parties.
“The Government is deeply concerned about this event, recognizing its widespread implications. Investigations will be launched to determine the origin of this incident,” the government statement declared.
