35 killed in petrol depot fire in Benin

35 killed in Benin petrol depot fire

At least 35 people, including an infant, have died and more than 10 others have been seriously injured after a fire broke out at an illegally operated petrol depot in the southeastern Oume area of Benin.

According to the Ministry of Interior and Public Security of Benin, 35 people lost their precious lives and 12 people were seriously injured in the fire on Saturday.
There has also been a lot of physical damage in the fire, including houses around the place where petrol is stored. A large explosion was heard as the fuel storage area caught fire. As soon as the information about the accident was received, a team of police, paramedics and medical staff was mobilized.

The petrol smuggled into Benin comes from Nigeria, the country’s eastern neighbour. Nigeria is a major oil producing country in Africa where fuel is very cheap. For the purpose of making profit, when many illegally store fuel, sometimes such unimaginable accidents happen in Benin and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Benin’s Ministry of Justice said it had launched an investigation into the accident.