NEW DELHI: At least nine people were killed and more than 46 injured in blasts caused by a fire at a military ammunition depot in Chad‘s capital N’Djamena on Tuesday night, according to Health Minister Abdelmadjid Abderahim.
The explosions occurred at a military base near the main international airport of the Central African nation, causing spent shells to fly into nearby homes.
The death toll could rise as many people suffered serious injuries, said Abderahim on Wednesday.
“The explosions lit up the night sky over the military base and sent spent shells flying into nearby homes where terrified residents struggled to find cover,” reported the minister.
On Wednesday morning, President Mahamat Idriss Deby visited the site, observing the wrecked cars and twisted metal littering the ground around a crater.
The explosions late Tuesday at the depot in N’Djamena lit up the sky as thick smoke covered the clouds in the West African nation.
Security and health officials have taken control of the situation in Chad following a series of explosions at an ammunition depot that began shortly before midnight and lasted over 30 minutes. Government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah assured residents to remain calm. The explosions resulted in nearby buildings shaking and artillery shells being scattered throughout the area.
Authorities quickly moved to secure the vicinity, calling on residents to stay away as security forces gathered the scattered ammunition. Local media reported extensive shaking of buildings due to the force of the blasts.
“Security and health officials deployed in the area,” said government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah. He urged residents to remain calm amid the situation.
Chad, a country with a population of nearly 18 million, has been experiencing political instability related to a controversial presidential election. The election saw Deby Itno declared the winner. Itno had been interim president following his father’s death in 2021, which led to a period of military rule.
The US and France have viewed Chad as a crucial ally in the Sahel region of Africa, especially given the recent military coups in neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The explosions occurred at a military base near the main international airport of the Central African nation, causing spent shells to fly into nearby homes.
The death toll could rise as many people suffered serious injuries, said Abderahim on Wednesday.
“The explosions lit up the night sky over the military base and sent spent shells flying into nearby homes where terrified residents struggled to find cover,” reported the minister.
On Wednesday morning, President Mahamat Idriss Deby visited the site, observing the wrecked cars and twisted metal littering the ground around a crater.
The explosions late Tuesday at the depot in N’Djamena lit up the sky as thick smoke covered the clouds in the West African nation.
Security and health officials have taken control of the situation in Chad following a series of explosions at an ammunition depot that began shortly before midnight and lasted over 30 minutes. Government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah assured residents to remain calm. The explosions resulted in nearby buildings shaking and artillery shells being scattered throughout the area.
Authorities quickly moved to secure the vicinity, calling on residents to stay away as security forces gathered the scattered ammunition. Local media reported extensive shaking of buildings due to the force of the blasts.
“Security and health officials deployed in the area,” said government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah. He urged residents to remain calm amid the situation.
Chad, a country with a population of nearly 18 million, has been experiencing political instability related to a controversial presidential election. The election saw Deby Itno declared the winner. Itno had been interim president following his father’s death in 2021, which led to a period of military rule.
The US and France have viewed Chad as a crucial ally in the Sahel region of Africa, especially given the recent military coups in neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
