AFRICA/CHAD – Officially there are 9 victims and 46 injured from the “Powder magazine” explosion but perhaps there are more
N’Djamena (Agenzia Fides) – “The official toll gives account of 9 dead and 46 injured, but the victims are probably many more” a local source from N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, where on the evening of 18 June the most important arsenal in the city exploded (see Fides 19/6/2024).
“The initial explosion was very strong, so much so that the windows of the apartments on the highest floors of the buildings located a few kilometers from the powder magazine were destroyed. This was followed by numerous secondary explosions which projected the ammunition all around and ended up against civilian homes. For this reason it is feared that the death toll is higher than that presented by the government” reports our source.
As regards the causes of the explosion, the authorities have opened an investigation but, according to what the Fides source states “the prevailing opinion is that of a tragic accident linked to carelessness and negligence on the part of those who were supposed to guard the ‘arsenal”. “On the other hand – he adds – even a few years ago a similar accident occurred in the same military depot and even then there was talk of negligence.”
The Goudji Arsenal, commonly called the “Powder Magazine”, is the army’s main depot of heavy weapons and ammunition in N’Djamena. It is located near important garrisons and the army headquarters, Hassan Djamous International Airport and at the Adji Kosseï military base which hosts the French contingent in Chad. “Initially that was a relatively uninhabited area but over the years, with the expansion of the city, the “Powder magazine” found itself surrounded by civilian homes” states the source. “The very proximity of the international airport represents a problem. Fortunately the airport was closed for a few hours after the explosion and is now functional, but it would have been a big problem if it had remained unusable for days because it represents the main communication route with foreign countries”.
The scene of the explosion is impressive: in place of the military depot there is a huge hole in the ground, surrounded by the calcined carcasses of destroyed military vehicles. Around civilian homes and even a clinic show signs of detonations and in many cases have unexploded artillery shells stuck in the roofs or walls.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who visited the site, reassured: “I would like to tell my compatriots that the situation is under control and to remain calm.” He then added: “It is not the first time that explosions of ammunition depots have occurred. This should teach us not to build a warehouse in the middle of the city anymore.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 20/6/2024)
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