N’DJAMENA: A fire that tore through a huge military ammunition depot in Chad’s capital N’Djamena killed at least nine people and injured dozens more, officials said on Wednesday, warning the toll could rise.
The inferno, which erupted late Tuesday, unleashed powerful explosions that reverberated across the city skyline, with detonating ordnance felt miles away from the site.
Health Minister Abdelmadjid Abderahim expressed grave concern over the incident, noting that many of the 46 wounded were in critical condition. “The situation remains extremely serious,” he remarked during a press briefing.
Reports from the scene on Wednesday revealed a landscape littered with unexploded shells and charred remnants of military equipment, indicating the intensity of the blaze that engulfed the Goudji area, home to Chad’s largest ammunition storage facility.
Government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah clarified that while the cause was not deemed criminal, an investigation was underway to determine the exact origin of the fire. Initial findings suggested fatalities occurred within the ammunition storeroom.
“We anticipated far worse casualties and damage. Thankfully, the impact was less severe than feared,” Koulamallah reassured.
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing experiences as explosions tore through the night, causing structural damage and forcing residents to flee their homes. Kadidja Dakou, a local resident, described how her house was damaged by one of the blasts, prompting her family to seek refuge outdoors.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, which included the death of a six-year-old girl in Amsinene whose family was mourning her tragic loss.
Authorities swiftly mobilized emergency response teams to contain the fire and secure the area, deploying demining experts to neutralize any remaining threats posed by unexploded ordnance.
The military camp near N’Djamena’s international airport and housing French troops bore the brunt of the explosions, yet no French personnel were reported injured, confirmed a French military official speaking on condition of anonymity.
Chad, a crucial player in the Sahel region’s fight against terrorism, remains in a state of heightened security following the incident, amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the volatile situation.
President Deby, who assumed power following the death of his father and predecessor, President Idriss Deby Itno, has faced political challenges amidst international scrutiny over recent elections characterized as lacking transparency.
