In the early hours of Monday, December 18, 2023, an explosion followed by a massive inferno at the Guinean Petroleum Company’s main fuel depot in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea, resulted in significant casualties and widespread disruption.

The incident resulted in 13 deaths and injured 178 people, as confirmed by official sources. The explosion, occurring just after midnight, has stoked fears of significant supply challenges in Guinea, a nation reliant on imported petroleum products.

In a swift governmental response, officials reported that out of the 178 injured, at least 89 have received medical treatment and have been discharged. These updated figures follow the initial provisional counts from the Civil Protection Service of Guinea. The death toll includes several foreign nationals.

An investigation is underway to uncover the reasons behind the explosion at the depot, a critical component of Guinea’s fuel infrastructure. Notably, the depot was in the process of being moved to a less populated area to mitigate the risk of such disasters.

Residents near the site were evacuated due to the severity of the fire, which produced extensive smoke coverage. Mounatou Baldé, a resident, described being awoken by a sound resembling a whistle, followed by a loud explosion. 

Government actions included the closure of schools and public areas in the capital and restricted access to the Kaloum district, with exceptions for essential services.

Interim President Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, in power since a 2021 coup, emphasized the government’s commitment to care for the injured and called for national unity and prayer.

Ahmed Condé, a depot employee, indicated the explosion occurred during the offloading of a ship, expressed sorrow over the loss of several coworkers, including guards and technical staff, and noted the complete destruction of the depot’s offices and equipment.

The explosion and subsequent fire caused extensive damage in Kaloum, an important district with government offices and a normally busy port, which now resembles an abandoned city, with residents fleeing and emergency teams deployed.

The country’s Security Minister, Bachir Diallo, confirmed on national television that the blaze has been contained. 

Neighboring countries, such as Senegal and Mali, are providing medical and emergency support to Guinea following the incident.