9 dead, 46 injured in Chad ammunition depot explosion

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – At least nine people were killed and 46 others injured following an explosion at an ammunition warehouse in Chad's capital N'Djamena, authorities announced Wednesday.

Chad’s Public Health Minister Abdelmadjid Abderrahim told a press conference that the cause of the fire and explosions, which happened late Tuesday, is not yet known.

Early Wednesday, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno visited the victims and the disaster site located at the city's Goudji neighborhood.

Speaking to reporters, Itno said the situation is under control and the state would take care of those injured.

“This serves as a lesson to us concerning the construction of weapons warehouses in cities. We need to abide by international norms,” he said.

A fire triggered a series of explosions at a military ammunition depot in N'Djamena late Tuesday.

The blasts were heard near N'Djamena International Airport, eyewitnesses told Anadolu.

Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah announced on his social media account that a fire broke out in the Goudji area of the capital.

Urging citizens to remain calm, he did not provide further information.

"There have been casualties and material damage due to a fire in the ammunition depot at the strategic reserve camp," President Deby Itno said in a statement on his social media account, without elaborating.

Ordering an investigation into the accident, Itno extended his condolences to the grieving families of those who lost their lives, wishing a swift recovery to the injured.