Tragedy in Guinea: 13 Killed, 178 Injured in Fuel Depot Explosion

Thirteen people were killed and 178 others injured in a powerful explosion and fire at the main fuel depot in Guinea's capital Conakry on Monday. The explosion rocked the Kaloum administrative district, blowing out the windows of nearby homes and forcing hundreds to flee, according to a Reuters witness. The country's head of civil protection, Jean Traore, said 88 people were injured and 13 bodies have been brought to health facilities.

The extent of the damage to the terminal was unclear and an investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the fire and any parties responsible. Guinea is not an oil producer and has no refining capacity. It imports refined products, mostly stored in the Kaloum terminal and distributed via trucks across the country. The government expressed deep concern about the event, warning of potential repercussions for the wider population.

Firefighters had largely contained the blaze by Monday afternoon, but concerns over a potential fuel shortage prompted residents in the town of Mamou, around 260 km from Conakry, to besiege gas stations. A litre of gasoline is currently being sold for 20,000 Guinean franc ($2.35) on the black market, up from 12,000 Guinean franc previously. The government said that the scale of the incident could have a direct impact on the population, as schools and most gas stations were closed. The cause of the fire was unknown, and an investigation will be launched to determine what caused it and any parties responsible. Firefighters had largely contained the blaze by Monday afternoon, as several tanker trucks left the Conakry depot, escorted by soldiers and police.