APA-Conakry (Guinea) The government has revised the death toll from the explosion at the Kaloum fuel depot in Conakry on the night of December 17-18, 2023.
From 14 the toll has now risen to 18 people killed following a fire that ravaged the national hydrocarbon depot in Kaloum last Sunday.
“Out of 212 people admitted to health facilities, 127 have returned to their families. 85 people are still hospitalised, including 4 cases under intensive care”, said Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, Minister and Government Spokesman.
“Thanks to the efforts of the medical profession, we are now deploring 4 new cases of death, bringing the death toll to 18” he said.
Assistance to disaster victims continues through the Agence Nationale de Gestion d’Urgence et des Catastrophes Humanitaires. As of December 19, this agency had provisionally counted 738 households in the Coronthie 1 and 2 districts. Tombo and Almamya, all in the commune of Kaloum.
The government expressed its deep gratitude to the Guinean people for their active solidarity, and to the friendly countries that mobilised in the wake of the tragedy.
In view of developments in the situation, new measures have been taken by the authorities. This time, these are mitigating measures, notably the resumption of diesel-only supplies to the population nationwide this Wednesday, December 20, 2023. However, the restriction on tanker traffic is still in force.
“Minimum service is authorised in public and private administrations in the commune of Kaloum from Wednesday, December 20, 2023; Wearing masks is strongly recommended in the commune of Kaloum and the area impacted by the disaster remains closed to the public, for security and investigation reasons, with the exception of specialised services,” the government said.
International solidarity chain
Following the deadly tragedy, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Guinea expressed “his deepest condolences to the Guinean people, the President of the Transition and the Government.”
Reiterating its solidarity with the Guinean people, the United Nations pledges its commitment and necessary support to the Guinean government in its relief and reconstruction efforts.
Justice in motion
Following the government’s promise to shed light on the causes of the fire at the fuel depot, the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Conakry Court of Appeal has instructed the opening of an investigation.
Instructions were given on Tuesday December 19 to the Public Prosecutor at the Kaloum Court of First Instance to open judicial investigations against possible suspects linked to the tragedy, which left 18 people dead, a hundred injured and extensive material damage.
The investigation concerns suspected “arson of the Kaloum hydrocarbon depot (SGP), destruction, damage to public and private buildings, homicide, intentional assault and battery, conspiracy to commit an offence,” Attorney General, Yamoussa Conte said.
The United Nations country office says it is awaiting the results of the investigation. welcomed the authorities’ reaction, marked by the preventive announcement of security measures and the setting up of a crisis management and coordination mechanism.
Message from ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through the Commission headed by Gambian diplomat Oumar Alieu Touray, called on member countries and the international community to lend their support to Guinea.
ASD/ac/fss/as/APA