A catastrophic fire erupted at an ammunition depot in the Goudji area of N’Djamena, Chad, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, according to senior government officials.
Foreign Minister Koulamallah Abderaman confirmed the incident at the military facility, which triggered major explosions that rocked the capital.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby extended his condolences to the victims and their families, though the exact number of casualties remains unspecified.
Unverified video footage shows the night sky illuminated by the blasts, with explosions heard miles away.
Journalists from AFP reported that the blaze caused weapons to discharge into the air, with a French official describing “explosions of ammunition of all calibres.”
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes. Moustapha Adoum Mahamat described being awakened by loud blasts that shook his home, seeing a massive fire, and witnessing artillery flying overhead.
Amid the chaos, Foreign Minister Abderaman urged the public to stay calm.
President Déby assured citizens that an investigation into the cause of the fire would be conducted, expressing his sympathies on Facebook: “Peace to the souls of the victims, sincere condolences to the grieving families and a speedy recovery to the wounded.”
