On 18 December 2023, an explosion and broke out at an in, Guinea, killing at least 24 people and injuring 454 and resulting in fuel shortages across the country.
Volunteers collected food donations for those in need after the blast at the state oil company's main depot in the Kaloum district of the capital, Conakry, near the port. The explosion, whose cause is still unknown, wreaked damage to buildings over a radius of more than one kilometre (0.6 miles).
What happened at Guinea's main fuel depot in Conakry?
An explosion and inferno at Guinea's main fuel depot in the capital of Conakry has left several people dead or injured. Guinea's presidency says the fire broke out at the Guinean Petroleum Company depot shortly after a massive explosion past midnight Sunday. (AP Photo)
How many people were killed in Conakry oil blast?
Fourteen people were killed and 190 injured in the blast at the West African nation's main oil terminal, which rocked the Kaloum district in downtown Conakry in the early hours of Monday. The government said 13 fuel storage tanks were out of service while five tanks were unaffected.
Following the explosion, the government announced the suspension of fuel distribution across the country, leading to the closure of service stations and clashes in Conakry between hundreds of demonstrators, many of them wearing facial coverings and throwing stones and burning tires, and the security forces, who fired tear gas on the protesters.
The explosion blew out the windows of nearby houses in downtown Conakry, and hundreds of residents fled the area, eyewitnesses said. The authorities have ordered schools in the city to close and urged workers to stay at home. The explosion was caused by a fire. It is unclear what started the blaze.
What happened at the Guinean Petroleum Company depot?
The massive explosion sparked the fire at the Guinean Petroleum Company depot after midnight Sunday, Guinea's presidency said. It caused significant damage in the heart of the Kaloum administrative district, home to most government offices.