The Cameroonian government has announced that an accidental fire, caused by fireworks, killed at least 16 people overnight from Saturday to Sunday in a nightclub in an upscale district of Yaoundé, the capital.
This tragedy comes as the country hosts the African Cup of Nations (CAN), the queen competition of African football.
Read alsoCAN: the posters for the round of 16 and the complete program
“
An accidental fire
” broke out and “
the first report shows 16 dead (…) and eight seriously injured
”, specifies the Ministry of Communication in a written press release.
The incident occurred in the main hall of Liv's Night Club, located in the Bastos district, which is home to luxurious houses, embassies and residences of diplomats.
"
The drama, which was caused by explosions from the fireworks usually used in these places, first consumed the ceiling of the building, then resulting in two high-amplitude explosions, causing panic and the stampede
, ”continues the ministry.
“
When we arrived, there was panic, there was a strong fire with a lot of smoke
,” a Yaoundé fire official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding.
“
We have counted 16 dead and five injured
”.
In the courtyard of the establishment, some charred objects evoke a fire, but the facade of the discotheque is not destroyed or charred, noted an AFP journalist.
"
It went very quickly, it was a little after 2 a.m. and the majority of customers arrive around 3 a.m., it happened in the room, there are many victims
", assured the AFP a security guard present at the time of the tragedy.
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