Guinea’s military authorities have issued a directive to close all schools in the capital city due to an explosion at an oil terminal in Conakry’s Kaloum neighborhood early on Monday. The blast occurred at the main hydrocarbon depot of the Guinea Oil Company, triggering a massive fire and prompting residents to evacuate.
While there is no confirmed death toll, a senior police officer mentioned to Reuters that at least eight people lost their lives, and 84 others sustained injuries in the incident.
In response to the situation, the junta has mandated the closure of both public and private schools in the affected area, urging workers, except for defense and security forces and medical professionals, to stay home.
A statement released by the authorities also called for the shutdown of all petrol stations in the region, except those providing emergency services.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are expressing concern about its potential impact on the population, emphasizing that the incident’s “scale and consequences” are yet to be determined.
The government has advised residents in the immediate vicinity to distance themselves from the site, assuring that resources have been deployed to contain the fire and minimize its repercussions.
