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| The moment a fire engulfed a gas station in Benin. (Source: PM News) |
Local officials said the fire broke out on September 23 at a warehouse in the town of Seme Krake. In addition to the victims who died, more than 10 others were seriously injured and are being treated in hospital.
According to the head of the local fire department, the fire spread to the surrounding area, setting many houses and vehicles on fire.
Benin's Ministry of Justice has sent condolences to the families of the victims and announced an investigation into the cause of the accident.
According to prosecutor Adam-Bongle, preliminary investigation results show that the accident likely occurred because while the store staff were loading bags of gasoline into the warehouse, the bags of gasoline caught fire, causing the fire.
The Ministry of Justice is working with relevant agencies to identify the victims, while the injured have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Petrol smuggling is common in Benin and the source of this smuggled petrol is often from neighboring Nigeria.
Smuggling of this commodity often poses many risks, because the storage conditions of gasoline and oil often do not ensure fire safety. This is the main cause of fires that cause serious damage to people and property.
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